A  SHORT  GRAMMAR 

OF  THE 

SrilLLUK  LANGUAGE 

BY 

Dl'EDRICH  WESTERMANN 


UC-NRLF 


L'lSRAR* 

UN  •.VERITY  OF 
CALIFORNIA 


•3PHEDAY 
MISSIONS  LIBRARY 


A  SHORT  GRAMMAR 

OF  THE 

SHILLUK  LANGUAGE 

BY 

DIEDRICH  WESTERMANN 


PHILADELPHIA,  PA. 

THE  BOARD  OF  FOREIGN  MISSIONS 

OF  THE  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  OF  N.  A. 

IN  GERMANY: 
DIETRICH  REIMER  (ERNST  VOHSEN)  BERLIN 


?//?    "/ 


LOAN  STACK 


ALL  RIGHTS  RESERVED 
PRINTED  ttY  J.  J.  Al-'CJl'STlN,   (iLLCKSTADT 


PREFACE. 

The  Shilluk  country  is  situated  in  the  Anglo - 
Egyptian  Sudan ;  it  extends  along  the  west  bank 
of  the  White  Nile  from  Kaka  in  the  north  to 
Lake  No  in  the  south;  besides  this  there  are 
several  Shilluk  villages  along  the  banks  of  the 
lower  Sobat,  chiefly  on  the  northern  side. 

This  little  book  is  an  epitome  of  my  researches 
in  the  Shilluk  language  made  during  a  stay  in 
the  Shilluk  country  and  in  Khartoum  from  August 
1910  to  the  end  of  October  1910.  It  is  based 
on  a  larger  collection  of  folklore,  which  will  be 
edited  within  a  few  months,  together  with  a 
grammar  and  dictionary. 

The  present  grammar  is  intended  solely  as  a 
practical  guide  to  the  Shilluk  language,  and  for 
this  reason  I  have  ^tried  to  adapt  it  to  the  needs 
of  the  Europeans  and  Americans  living  among 
this  people.  The  main  difficulties  in  acquiring  a 
knowledge  of  the  language  are  pronunciation  and 
intonation;  it  is  of  the  greatest  importance  that 
the  student  should  pay  careful  attention  to  these 
two  points,  as  otherwise  misunderstandings  are 
unavoidable.  I  have  therefore  thought  it  necessary, 
to  represent  the  sounds  and  the  intonation  as 
carefully  and  exactly  as  possible.  The  many 
diacritical  dots  and  accents  may  not  look  very 
encouraging  to  the  reader,  but  I  earnestly  beg  of 
him,  not  to  let  them  deter  him  from  employing 
the  book:  once  one  is  accustomed  to  them,  they 
are  not  so  bad  as  they  may  at  first  appear,  and 


677 


—     IV     — 

they  are  indispensable.  In  order  to  obtain  both- 
the  right  pronunciation  and  intonation,  the  help 
of  an  intelligent  native  should  always  be  at  hand. 

The  orthography  adopted  is  a  compromise 
between  the  one  already  in  use  among  the  mis- 
sionaries, and  the  phonetic  writing. 

The  object  of  this  book  made  it  impossible, 
to  treat  the  language  exhaustively;  indeed  many 
problems  have  not  even  been  touched,  as  for 
instance  the  position  of  the  Shilluk  among  other 
African  languages,  etymology,  the  ways  of  forming 
words,  the  laws  according  to  which  the  tones 
change.  I  have  purposely  reserved  these  questions 
for  a  more  comprehensive  grammar. 

As  to  how  this  book  should  be  employed, 
I  would  add  a  few  remarks :  the  quantity  of  vowels 
is  not  so  unchangeable  as  it  is  in  some  other 
Sudan  languages,  frequently  a  vowel  is  long,  when 
standing  in  an  unconnected  word,  and  short  when 
in  a  connected  word,  that  is  a  word  spoken  in 
connection  with  other  words.  When  a  mute  con- 
sonant stands  between  two  vowels,  it  is  sometimes 
extremely  difficult  to  distinguish,  whether  it  is 
hard  (voiceless)  or  soft.  If  the  word  is  pronounced 
very  slowly  -  -  which  is,  of  course,  not  the  natural 
way  of  speaking  —  the  sound  is  hard,  for  instance  £, 
but  if  it  is  pronounced  rapidly  in  a  sentence, 
a  d  ist  heard.  -  -  The  verbs  are  mostly  employed 
in  the  past  tense,  the  present  is  not  heard  nearly 
so  often;  when  being  asked  for  a  verb,  the  natives 
will  in  almost  all  cases  give  the  past  tense. 
In  the  vocabulary  the  tones  of  words  are  given 


y      

as  completely  as  was  possible.  In  those  cases 
where  the  tones  of  a  word  are  not  marked,  I  am 
not  frilly  acquainted  with  them.  The  tones  given 
in  the  vocabulary  are  those  which  a  word  has, 
when  it  is  spoken  separately,  that  is,  when  not 
standing  in  a  sentence.  If  in  a  diphthong  only 
the  first  vowel  has  an  intonation-mark,  the  tone 
of  the  second  vowel  is  the  same  as  that  of  the 
first.  -  Words  occurring  in  the  text,  but  not  in 
the  vocabulary,  I  am  not  able  to  satisfactorily 
identify. 

I  am  greatly  obliged  to  Mr.  L.  Hamilton  of  the 
School  for  Oriental  Languages,  Berlin,  for  revising 
the  English  text  of  this  work. 

D.  WESTERMANN. 


I.  Grammar. 


The  Sounds. 

1.  The  Consonants. 

b  as  in  English. 

ch  is  almost,  but  not  quite  the  same  sound  as  in 
church,  child.  The  sound  is  articulated 
further  back  in  the  nrouth. 

d  as  in  English. 

d  is  an  interdental  d;  put  the  tongue  between  the 
teeth-rows,  so  that  it  is  visible  from  without 
between  the  teeth,  then  press  it  lightly  against 
the  upper  teeth,  and  pronounce  a  d. 

/  as  in  English. 

g  always  hard,  as  in  garden,  gold,  never  as  in 
George. 

h  occurs  only  in  some  exclamations;  it  is  sounded 
a  little  stronger  than  the  English  h  in  "he". 

Y  might  be  called  a  fricative  g;  it  is  in  the  same 
relation  to  g,  as  v  is  to  b.  It  is  somewhat 
similar  to  the  Arabic  Ghain,  but  it  is  much 
softer,  and  its  place  of  articulation  does  not 
lie  so  far  back  in  the  throat  as  that  of  Ghain. 

We  s  term  an  n  ,  Shilluk-English. 


—     2     — 

j  is  almost,  but  not  quite  the  same  sound  as  the 
English  ]  in  jest,  just.  It  is  articulated  a 
little  further  back  in  the  mouth,  and  there- 
fore sounds  "thinner". 

k  I  m  n  are  as  in  English.  But  /,  when  standing 
at  the  end  of  a  word,  is  "rolled",  almost 
as  the  English  pronounce  the  11  in  well. 

n  is  like  n  in  canon,  or  like  Italian  and  French 
gn  in  signore,  seigneur.  Its  pronunciation 
is  somewhat  difficult,  if  it  stands  at  the  end 
of  a  word;  here  sometimes  foreigners  pro- 
nounce n  instead  of  n.  This  can  easily  be 
avoided  by  adding  the  so-called  'helping 
vowel'  e  (see  below)  to  the  n  ;  instead  of 
saying  leii  "war",  say  lene. 

n  is  an  interdental  n,  pronounced  by  putting  the 
tongue  between  the  teeth,  as  in  d. 

n  is  like  ng  in  "sing",  "singer".  Its  pronunciation 
is  only  difficult  at  the  beginning  of  a  word. 
Divide :  si-nger,  and  pronounce  nger  only. 
This  ng  is  exactly  the  sound  of  n. 

p  is  as  in  English. 

r  is  formed  with  the  tongue's  end.  It  is  not 
rolled,  but  pronounced  very  slightly,  so  that 
often,  chiefly  between  two  vowels,  ;•  and 
d  are  hardly  distinguishable. 

6-A  is  formed  a  little  further  back  in  the  mouth 
than  the  English  sh.  It  is  nearly  the  same 
sound  as  the  German  ch  in  "ich",  "dich". 

s  is  the  sharp  th  as  in  thing,  thorough. 

t  is  as  in  English. 

t  is  the  interdental  t;  it  is  formed  just  in  the 
same  way  as  d,  only  the  tongue  is  pressed 
more  tightly  against  the  upper  teeth,  and 
the  sound  is  voiceless. 

w  as  in  English. 

y  as  in  English  yes,  yonder;  it  is  never  a  vowel 
sound  as  in  spy. 

z  is  the  soft  th  as  in  these,  them. 


—    3     - 
2.  System  of  the  Consonants. 


Mutes 

Fricatives 

Semi- 

Voice- 

Voiced 

Voice- 
less 

Voiced 

Liquids 

Nasals 

vowels 

| 

Velars  .  .  . 

k 

9 



r 



n 



Palatals  .  . 

dl 

j 

sli 



n 

y 

Alveolars  . 

t 

d 



— 

r  I 

n 

Inter- 

dentals 

t 

d 

| 

z 

— 

n 

— 

Labials  .  . 

P 

I 

— 

— 

in 

w 

3.  The  Vowels. 

The  quality  of  vowels  is  marked  by  signs 
below  the  letters;  the  quantity  is  marked  by  signs 
above  the  letters.  Long  vowels  are  marked  by  a 
line,  thus :  a  =  long  a.  All  vowels  which  have 
no  mark  above,  are  short. 

a  is  the  pure  "Italian"  a,  as  the  French,  Italian 
arid  German  short  a,  almost  like  the  English 
a  in  lad,  hat.  But  the  English  sound  is 
rather  in  the  middle  between  a  and  e9  where- 
as the  Shilluk  a  is  purer,  the  mouth  being 
opened  wider  than  in  the  formation  of  the 
English  a.  In  certain  cases,  however,  the 
Shilluk  a  has  also  a  tendency  towards  the  e 
(in  phonetic  writing  this  sound  would  be  a); 
these  cases  will  be  indicated.  Examples  of 
the  pure  Shilluk  a:  kal  "fence",  mak  "catch!" 
anan  "now",  jal  "man", 
a  is  a  sound  between  a  and  o,  almost  like  the 

English  u  in  but.     Ex.:  gat  "river-side". 
o  like  o  in  pot,  hot;  e.  g. :  go  "him",  got  "court", 
nol  "cut".     If  o  stands    at  the    end    of  poly- 
syllabic words,    it  is  pronunced  very  faintly, 
so    that    often    an   e   is  merely    heard.     But 


if  one  listens  carefully,  and  if  one  asks  the 
natives  to  pronounce  such  a  word  a  second 
time,  the  o  is  distinctly  heard.  It  is  the 
end-vowel  of  many  nouns  and  of  the  verb 
in  the  present  tense. 

e  as  e  in  let,  went,  well;  but  the  sound  is  a  little 
broader,  somewhat  more  tending  towards  a. 
e.  g. :  I'et  "go",  let  "hot",  bet  "fish-spear". 

e  as  a  in  haste,  face,  but  shorter.     Ex.:  yecli  middle. 

e  is  a  very  short,  almost  voiceless  sound,  resem- 
bling that  of  a  in  "idea".  It  is  the  so-called 
'helping  vowel'.  The  short  e  does  not  occur 
at  the  end  of  a  word,  whereas  e  very  often 
finishes  a  word.  Therefore,  wherever  e 
occurs  at  the  end  of  a  word,  e  is  always 
given  instead  of  e.  Only  where  e  stands 
in  the  middle  of  a  word,  it  is  marked  e; 
e.  g.:  nek  "killed". 

£  like  i  in  hit,  fit;  e.  g. :  kinau  thus,  ni  "to  use  to", 
witi  "arrived". 

i  like  ee  in  keen,  e  in  he,  but  shorter.  In  an 
orthography  not  strictly  scientific  both  i  and 
i  may  be  rendered  by  the  same  letter:  i. 

o  like  o  in  note,  mote,  but  shorter,  and  narrower; 
it  tends  somewhat  towards  u;  e.  g. :  lot  "club". 

u  like  u  in  "put".  Ex.:  l>u  "to  have  not"  chuni 
"stop". 

u  like  oo  in  root,  but  shorter.  Ex. :  kudo  to  be 
silent,  budo  to  lie  down.  —  As  i  and  i,  so 
u  and  u  too  may  be  marked  by  the  same 
letter:  u. 

4.  System  of  the  Vowels. 

a 

a        a 

o  .  e 

o  i 

u  e  i          . 

u  i 


—       0       

5,  Long  Vowels. 

All  vowels,  including  e,  may  be  long, 
a  as  a  in  father;  mayo  to  catch. 
a  between  a  and  o;  e.  g. :  fado  to  fall. 

0  as  aw  in  law,  awe:  gogo  to  work. 
0:  fero  people  neno  much. 

e:  a  in  save,  bale;  e.  g. :  ye  jo  to  sweep. 
e:  yet  roads. 
I:  dim  bowels. 

1  as  ee  in  feel,  heel;  e.  g. :  rmo  to  run. 

0  as    o    in    mole,    but   narrower.     Ex. :  clidti   it   is 

finished. 

u :   nttti  not  yet. 
u  as  oo  in  cool,  fool.     Ex.:  riimo  to  think. 

6.  Diphthongs. 

ai  as  y  in  spy. 
an  as  ow  in  fowl. 

01  as  oi  in  oil. 

ei  almost  as  in  eight,  but  the  i  is  heard  more 
distinctly  than  in  English.  Ex.:  wei  to  let. 
The  sounds  ch,  j,  sli  and  n,  when  follow- 
ing a  vowel,  generally  have  a  slight  i  sound 
before  them,  which  combines  with  the 
preceding  vowel  to  a  diphthong.  This  i 
sound  is,  however,  not  expressed  in  writing, 
because  1.  it  occurs  regularly  before  the 
said  consonants,  and  2.  some  individuals 
pronounce  it  so  slightly,  that  in  some  cases 
one  may  doubt,  whether  it  really  exists.  - 
Thus  pack  "home"  is  to  be  pronounced 
patch,  goch  "beaten"  :  goich,  bano  "to  refuse"  : 
baino. 

Combinations  of  Semivowel  and  Vowel 
are  very  frequent.     In  these  cases  w  and  y  are  to 
be    pronounced    as    a   very    short,    non-syllabic    u 


and  i.     kwop    "talk"  almost    as   kuop,    akyd  "one" 
almost  akiel. 

7.  Interchange  of  Sounds. 

Some  sounds  may  be  interchanged  at  will, 
one  individual  preferring  the  one,  another  the 
other  consonant;  often  the  same  individual  in  the 
same  words  now  uses  the  one,  a  little  while  later 
the  other  consonant.  These  consonants  are 

cli  and  sh 

t  and  s 

d  and  z 

p  and  /. 

Until  now  both  cli  and  sh,  p  and  /  have 
been  written  by  the  missionaries,  but  for  t  and  5 
only  t  has  been  used,  for  d  and  z  only  d;  I  shall 
deviate  from  this  rule,  by  using  ch  and  p  to  render 
both  sounds,  reserving  sh  and  /  for  those  cases, 
where  the  natives  actually  prefer  them.  For  t 
and  s  I  write  only  t,  for  d  and  z  only  d. 

Change  of  Consonants. 

The  consonants  k  t  t  p  ch,  when  standing  at  the 
end  of  a  ivqrd,  can  be  pronounced  in  two  ways. 
They  are  voiceless,  that  is  a  real  k  t  t  p  cli,  if 
1.  the  word  stands  alone  or  at  the  end  of  a 
sentence;  2.  if  it  is  followed  by  a  voiceless 
consonant.  They  are  voiced,  that  is,  they  are 
to  be  pronounced  g  d  d  b  j,  1.  if  they  are 
followed  by  a  voiced  consonant;  2.  if  they  are 
followed  by  a  vowel.  But  they  are  always  written 
voiceless:  k  t  t  p  ch.  (One  exception  to  this  rule 
see  below).  Final  ch,  if  followed  by  a  consonant, 
often  softens  into  y:  wich  head,  wiy  jal  the  head 
of  the  man. 

8.  The  Intonation. 

The   intonation   is  an    important  and    essential 


element  in  the  Shilluk-language.  It  is  not  to  be 
confounded  with  the  accentuation,  which  solely 
means  the  stress  or  strength  laid  on  a  particular 
syllable  or  word.  Intonation  means  exclusively 
the  highness  or  lowness  of  a  syllable  compared 
with  other  syllables. 

In  Shilluk  each  syllable  has  its  own  tone, 
which,  as  a  rule,  is  not  altered,  or,  if  so,  only 
according  to  fixed  laws. 

A  word  is  not  formed  by  consonants  and  vowels 
only,  but  by  consonants,  vowels  and  tones.  The 
language  cannot  be  studied  without  close  attention 
to  the  intonation.  Many  '  words  and  forms  of 
words  are  distinguished  only  by  different  tones. 

There  are  three  different  tones  in  the  Shilluk 
language :  a  high  tone,  marked  thus :  d,  a  low 
tone :  «,  and  a  middle  tone :  a.  Many  syllables 
have  two  tones,  the  High  and  the  Low;  thus  we 
have  these  combinations :  a  rising  or  low-high 
tone  a,  and  a  falling  or  high-low  tone :  a. 

Combinations  between  the  high  and  middle, 
and  the  low  and  middle  tone  are  also  not  uri- 
frequent;  but  as  they  are  not  essential  for  the 
practical  use  of  the  language,  they  are  not  treated 
here. 

The  pronunciation  of  the  tone  and  the  relation 
of  the  tones  to  each  other  is  best  acquired  by 
hearing  them  from  the  natives.  They  cannot  be 
taught  by  the  written  word.  Therefore  I  shall 
give  several  examples  of  each  tone,  which  the 
student  should  let  a  native  pronounce  repeatedly 
so  long  till  he  is  not  only  able  to  hear  the 
differences,  but  to  imitate  them  to  the  satisfaction 
of  the  native. 


9.  Examples  for  the  Intonation. 

High  tone:  len  war,  fen  ground;  yfi  kb  I  say; 


yi  re  why  you  ?  ydn  I,  won  we,  #e'ft  they,  oboi 
foam,  men  an  this  one. 

Low  tone:  tiro  people,  e  kb  he  says,  e  mMb 
it  is  sweet,  yi  re  gwal  why  are  you  thin?  dean 
cow,  anan  now. 

Middle  tone:  is  not  so  easily  distinguished, 
and  may  be  confounded  with  the  high  tone. 
Examples:  otwon  "cock",  the  second  tone  is  a 
little  lower  than  the  first  one,  yet  it  is  not  the 
low  tone. 

Rising  tone:  Dak  (a  descendant  of  Nikan), 
fuk  a  water-pot,  ge  ben  all  of  them;  otwon  the 
hyena.  This  last  example  is  instructive;  the 
sounds  are  the  same  as  in  the  word  for  "cock"  ; 
only  in  "cock"  the  last  syllable  has  a  middle  tone, 
and  here  it  has  the  rising  tone. 

Falling  tone.  tSk  "is  absent",  tek  "is  hard", 
nok  is  little. 

The  rising  and  the  falling  tone  generally 
occur  on  syllables  with  a  long  vowel,  but  they 
may  occur  on  short  syllables  as  well,  just  the 
falling  tone  often  does  so.  In  this  case  the  high 
tone  is  prevalent,  but  just  before  the  sound  is 
stopped,  the  tone  is  lowered. 

Changes  of  tones  are  frequent,  but  are  not 
treated  here ;  many  may  be  observed  in  the 
sentences  and  texts. 

The  consonants  m  and  n  may  form  a  syllable, 
thus  taking  the  function  of  a  vowel.  Accordingly 
they  can  also  have  their  own  tone,  for  example: 
ram  thighs;  a  is  high,  but  m  low;  gyen  fowls. 

10.  The  Accentuation, 

that  is  the  emphasis  laid  on  a  syllable  or  a  word, 
is  not  of  such  importance  as  it  is  in  European 
languages,  chiefly  for  the  simple  reason  that  most  of 
the  words  are  monosyllabic.  Note  the  following 


rule :  the  stress  does  not  lie  on  the  vowel  be- 
ginning or  ending  a  word,  except  where  the  last 
vowel  is  an  independent  element,  as:  a  bind  "I 
came",  here  the  final  "a"  means  "I"  ;  in  this  case 
the  ending  vowel  has  its  own  accent. 


The  Noun. 

11.  The  Plural  of  NOUDS. 

The  Shilluk  language  has  different  ways 
of  forming  the  plural  of  nouns.  The  means  by 
which  the  plural  is  distinguished  from  the  singular, 
are  enumerated  bejow.  In  most  cases  not  one, 
but  more  of  these  means  are  employed  to  form  the 
plural,  for  instance  okot  plural  bkfit  "bell"  :  1.  the 
second  vowel  has  become  long,  2.  the  high  tone 
of  the  first  syllable  has  become  low,  3.  the  high 
tone  of  the  second  syllable  has  become  falling. 

12.  There  are  no  rules  according  to  which 
the  nouns  may  be  divided  into  classes,  each  of 
which  has  a  common  form  of  the  plural.  Just 
as  in  some  other  languages,  for  intance  in  German 
the  plural  of  each  noun  has  to  be  learned  sepa- 
rately. But  mark :  o  is  an  ending  of  the  singular 
only,  arid  i  is  an  ending  of  the  plural. 

Means  of  Forming  the  Plural. 

1.  Change  of  Vowel-quantity. 
ram-ram  thigh  wdro-war  shoe 

tyvlo-tyel    foot  rejo-rech  fish 

gy^no-gyeh  hen  okot-bkot  bell 

lijo-lek  tooth  bkiubk-bkivak  a  small 

tanb-tdm  temples  goose 


—     10     — 

nhU-nali  python  brbk-brbk   sin 

nwech-nwech  a  large Wizard      bgwol-bgivol  a  black  bird. 
bkok-bkhk  flower 

2.  Change  of  Vowel-quality. 

ogwdl-ogweli  frog  bat-bat  arm 

fal-fet  spoon  odek-udiki  mat 

jor-jor  bug  yat-yen  tree 

chun-chon  knee  yech-yet  belly 

yo-yvt  way  nivech-nwEch    a    large    li- 
wich-ivat  head  zard. 

3.  Change  of  tone. 

yit-ylt  ear  yQ-yty  waj 

ton-ton  spear  chun-chon  knee 

okwek-bkicak  a  goose  tijWo-tyel  foot 

ogicok-og^Td  fox  gwbk-gubk  dog 

owet-owet  a  niat  gy&nb-gy&k  hen. 

bfjivaro-oywerl  blue  heron 

4.  Dropping  the  final  o. 
fdlo-fal   knife  ivmo-wm  bird 

gy%nb-ffy6h  hen  tono-ton  egg 

byvlo-byel  dura  givElb-givel  ring. 

5.  Affixing  z. 

odek-udikl  a  mat  fmb-flnl  cheek 

kwom-kiiomi  chair  tano-tdm  temples. 

tdk-tdkl  hat. 

6.  Singular  w  becomes  ?t  in  plural. 
gwbk-yubk  dog  kivom-kuonn  chair. 

7.  The  combination    of  wo   in  singular   becomes  o 

in  plural. 
kl  fox. 


—    11    — 

8.  Other  changes. 

dean-dok  cow  rlt-ror  king 

kech-kdm  hunger. 

9.  Different  words  for  singular  and  plural. 
dacho-man  woman 
jalo  (jal)-chwou  man,  male 
pacli-myer  village. 


Case. 

13.  The  Crenetire  of  Nouns. 

Singular. 

The  genetive  simply  follows  the  noun  deter- 
mined by  it. 

wot  house ;  wot  jago  house  of  the  chief 
kivop  talk;  ktvop  obwbn  talk  of  the  stranger 
attp  bag;  a&p  nate  ivelo  bag  of  the  traveller 
okok  blossom;  okok  y an  eni  the  blossom  of  this  tree. 

If  a  noun  ending  in  jo,  do  or  go  is  followed 
by  a  genetive,  o  is  dropped,  and  ;  turns  into  n, 
d  into  n,  g  into  n: 

jago  chief;  jari  fote  icon   the  chief    of  our  country 
afoajo  rabbit;  afoan  nal  fan  the  rabbit  of  the  child. 

For  more  about  these  changes  see  below. 

In  some  cases  the  final  ch  is  dropped  before 
a  genetive : 
pack  village;  pa  rit  village  of  the  king. 

Plural. 

In  the  plural  almost  always  an  e  (e)  is  added 
to  the  noun  preceding  a  genetive. 
gwok  dog  pi.  gubk;  gubke  jal  eni  the  dogs  of  this  man 
Ujo  tooth  pi.  lek;    leke  lyech  teeth    of  the    elephant 
yet  neck  pi.  yiet;  yiete  ivotbn  the  necks  of  the  children 


—     12     — 

yit  ear  pi.  i/lt;  yite  kyen  ears  of  the  horse 

ate_p  bag  pi.  utep;  atepe  nate  icelo  the    bags  of    the 

traveller 
afoajo  rabbit  pi.  afoachl;  afoache  jal  mi  the  rabbits 

of  this  man 

jago  chief  ipl.  jak ;  jake  fote  icon  the  chiefs  our  country 
bkok  blossom  pi.  bkbk:  okdke  yan  mi  the   blossoms 

of  this  tree. 


The  Objective  Case. 

14,  The    direct    object    or   accusative   follows 
the  verb :    a  cham   by  el    he    ate    dura.     Sometimes 
the  particle  ki  is    added:    a    cham    ki   by  el  he    ate 
(with)  dura. 

The  indirect  object  or  dative  generally  pre- 
cedes the  direct  object ;  in  this  case  the  latter  is 
almost  always  introduced  by  ki: 

a    iv^ki  jdl   eni  ki    by  el  he    gave  this    man 
dura! 

But  in  very  many,  probably  in  most  cases 
the  direct  and  the  indirect  object  are  not  expressed 
at  all,  the  passive  voice  being  used  instead :  "I 
saw  him"  is  expressed  by  "he  was  seen  by  me"  5 
"he  gave  the  child  milk"  by  "the  child  was  given 
milk  by  him".  -  -  On  the  passive  voice  see  below. 

(xender. 

15.  The    language    has    no    grammatical,    but 
only  a  natural  gender,    which  is  expressed  in  the 
noun  only. 

There  are  two  ways  of  expressing  the  natural 
gender. 

a.  by  different  words. 
chwou  man  ddcho  woman 

wat  bull  dean  cow 

onwok  male  sheep  or  goat     dyel  female  goat. 


13     — 

b.  by  adding  otwon  for  the  male,  mat  for  the 
female  gender.  [lion 

nh  btwon  male  lion  nu  mat  or  mat  nu  female 

tbni  nu  male  lions  mati  nu  female  lions 

kyen  a  twon  male  horse      kyen  a  mat  female  horse 
pi.  kiien  a  tbn  kuen  a  mat 

L  t7  —  ^ — f\  <J  —  f\ 

twon  omoro  male  mat   omoro   female    roan 

pi.  tbn  omoro  mat  omoro.          [antelope 

The  deminutive   is  expressed    by    prefixing   na 

"child"  :    na  dean    a  small,    young  cow,    na  kyen  a 

small  horse. 


Pronouns. 

The  Personal  Pronoun. 
16.  Absolute  Form. 

This  form  does  not  stand  immediately  before 
a  verb,  it  is  used  when  the  person  is  to  be 
emphasized,  therefore  it  might  be  called  the 
emphatic  form.  It  is  employed  for  the  subjective 
and  objective  form  alike :  I  and  me,  thou  and 
thee  etc. 

ydn  I  won  we 

yin  thou  wun  you 

in  (yen)  he  gen  they. 

gbn  he 

gon   occurs  frequently  as  objective,  but  seldom  as 
subjective  pronoun. 

This  form  may  be  emphasized  by  adding  d: 
ydnd,  yind,  end.  This  has  the  meaning  of  "I  am", 
"it  is  I"  :  yind  jwok  "thou  God",  "oh  God"  ;  ma 
Bacliodo  "that  is  Fashoda". 

17.  Connected  Form,  standing  before  the  verb. 

This  form  is  generally  used  as  the  subject 
of  verbs. 


?/d  1  wd,  wo  we 

yi,  them  wu  you 

he 


,   1 
2  I 


f'  (sometimes  <f)  and  ye  are  used  promiscuously, 
<70  as  subjective  pronoun  is  not  frequent. 

18.  Objective  Form;  stem  chwol  to  call. 

With  more  emphasis: 

d  chwold  he  called  me        a  chwold  ydn 
a  chwoll  he  called  thee      a  chwold  yin 
d  chwole  he  called  him       a  chwold  en,  gon 
d  chwoll  icon  he  called  us       a  chwold  won 
d  c  hwo  II  w  u  n  h  e  c  all  e  d  y  o  u     a  chwo  Id  iv  u  n 
d  chwoll  (/en  he  called  them  •  a   chwold  gen. 

19.  Possessive  Form;  wot  house  pi.  wodi. 

ivodd  my  house  wotd  my  houses 

wod'i  thy  house  wbti  thy  houses 

wode  his  house  ivote  his  houses 

wot  ')  won  our  house  wote  icon   our  houses 

wot  ])  wun  your  house  wote  wun  your  houses 

icot  ])  yen  their  house  wote  gen  their  houses. 

ywbk  dog  pi.  giibk. 

gwbgd  my  dog  guokd  my  dogs 

</t#o</i  thy  dog  gudkl  thy  dogs 

givbge  his   dog  giloke  his  dogs 

gwbk*)  won  our  dog  guoke  icon  our  dogs 

gwok2)  wun  your  dog          guoke  wun  your  dogs 
gw6k*)  gen  their  dog  guoke  gen  their  dogs. 

K  the  end  consonant  in  the  plural  is  mute,  it  is 
always  voiceless. 


1)  this  £  is  to  be  pronounced  d;  see  rule  above. 

2)  this  fc  is  to  be  pronounced  g;  see  rule  above. 


—     15 

Note  the  changes  of  the  tone. 

If  a  noun  in  the  singular  ending  in  jo,  do, 
or  go  is  followed  by  a  possessive  pronoun,  o  is 
dropped,  and  j  becomes  ri,  d  becomes  n,  g  be- 
comes n: 

jago  chief  ja'na  my  chief 

jak  chiefs  jakd  my  chiefs 

afoajo  rabbit  afoana  my  rabbit 

afoachi  rabbits  afoachd  my  rabbits. 

In  some  cases  the  possessive  pronoun  is  prefixed 
by  r:  ra  my,   ri  thy   etc.     Before    this  r  the  final 
consonant  of  the  noun  drops : 
nal  child  nara  my  child 

pack  village  para  my  village 

pari  thy  village  etc. 

20.  The  Possessive  Pronoun  as  a  Substantive. 

a.  Singular  of  the  thing  possessed: 
mea  mine  mei  icon  ours 
mei  thine                                  mei  wun  yours 
mt  his                                      mei  gen  theirs. 

b.  Plural  of  the  thing  possessed. 
mogd  mo  won 
mogi  mo  wun 
rnoge  mo  gen. 

Instead  of  "me",  "gin"  =  "thing"  may  also 
be  taken:  gina  my  thing  =  mine. 

Note.  The  singular  of  the  personal  pronoun 
is  not  unfrequently  used  instead  of  the  plural  of 
the  corresponding  person. 

21.  Interrogative  Pronouns. 

ano  what,  which  ?  pi.  ono  ? 
When  these,  as  well  as  the  demonstrative 
pronouns,  are  combined  with  a  noun  in  the  sin- 
gular, the  final  consonant,  if  mute,  undergoes 
certain  changes,  which  are  best  shown  in  the 
following  examples: 


—     16     — 

wot  house:  d  won  ano  which  house  is  it? 

rit  king:  a  ran  ano  which  king  is  it? 

yat  tree:  a  yan  ano  which  tree  is  it? 

ogwok  jackal:  d  ogwon  ano  which  jackal  is  it? 

atep  bag:  d  a  fern  ano  which  bag  is  it? 

lyech  elephant  d  lyeji  ano  which  elephant  is  it? 

All  other  consonants  remain  unchanged : 
gin  thing  d  gin  ano  which  thing  (what)  is  it? 

Plural. 

wodi  houses,   d  wot ])  ono  which  houses  are  they? 
ror  kings,  d  ror  ono  which  kings  are  they? 
yen  trees,  d  yen  fino  which  trees  are  they? 
ogok  jackals,  d  ogok1}  fino  which  jackals  are  they? 
afep  bags,  d  a£ep])  ono  which  bags  are  they? 
lyech  elephants,    d   lyech1)  dno  which  elephants  are 

they? 
gik  things,  d  gik})  ano  which  things  are  they? 

amen  who  ?  pi.  amok  ? 
amen  a  bl  who  has  come? 
amok1)  a  bl  who   (pi.)   came? 
jal  amen  which  man? 
jok  amok  which  men? 

amSn  a  d  wbrl  yin  who   (is  it  that)   sent  you? 
won    an    a    wot    men    this    house    is    house   whose? 

whose  house  is  this? 
ivot1)  ak  a  ivote  mok  whose  houses  are  these? 

a  which? 

ivon  a  which  house? 
ran  a  which  king? 
ogwon  a  which  fox? 
ogbki  a  which  foxes? 

22.  Relative  Pronouns. 

a.  Generally  the   relation   is  expressed   by  a, 


')  In  the  plural    the  final  mutes    are  voiceless,    that  is    a 
real  k   ch   t   t  pi 


—     17     — 

which  is  probably  the  same  particle  that  forms 
the  past  tense,  and  can,  therefore,  only  be  used 
for  the  past. 

jal  d  In  auwa  the  man  who  came  yesterday 
wot  d  give  won  the    house  which   was    built  by  us 
dean  d  neke  yi  tero  the    cow  which    was  killed  by 
the  people. 

b. 

md  who,  which:  jal  md  li  the  man  who  came 
ken  md  l>en  the  time  which  comes. 

c. 

mfrn  an  the  one  (which) : 

ya  fa  die  did  men  e  lojb,  yti  die  did  men  d  tar  I  do 
not  want  the  one  which  is  black,  I  want  the 
one  which  is  white. 

In  a.  and  c.  there  is  no  relative  pronoun,  it 
is  in  reality  a  simple  sentence  —  "the  man  came", 
"the  one  is  black"  -  -  which  serves  at  the  same 
time  for  expressing  a  relative  sentence. 

23.  Demonstrative  Pronouns. 

There  are  several  demonstrative  pronouns, 
marking  the  different  distances  between  the  speaker 
and  the  object  spoken  of. 

Singular:  an  this,  eni  that,  aclia  that  over  there. 
Plural :    ak,    an    or    dgctk   these,    eni  those,    cicha 

those  over  there. 
To  mark  a  distance  very  far  away,  they 

use  chine:  over  yonder. 

Here  the  same  changes  in  the  final  consonant 
of  the  noun  in  the  singular  take  place  as  in  the 
interrogative  pronoun. 

Examples. 
gwbk  dog 

gwon  an  this  dog  g won  eni  that  dog 

gwon  acJid  that  dog  there 

Wester  mann,  Shilluk-English.  2 


—     18 


gubk  dogs  !) 

gwok  ak  j    ,  givok  eni  those     yicok     acha    the 


dogs, 


dogs 


over 


house 


dogs 

agak  ]  ^  there 

jago  chief 
jan  an  this  chief    j  fin  eni  that  chief    jan  acha  the  chief 

over  there 
jak  chiefs 
jak  ak  these  chiefs    jak    eni    those    jak      ticket      the 

ttfo£  hou 
won  an 
wodi  houses 
iv  ot  ak 
yit  ear 
yin  an 
ylt  ears 
yit  ak 
atep  bag 
atem  an 
atvp  bags 
at$p  ak 
lyech  elephant 
lyen  an 

lyecli  elephants 
lyech  ak 
liio  tooth 
Un  an 
lek  teeth 
lek  ak 

two  (tedo)  people 
tdn  an 
tik  } 

Those  ending  in  other  consonants  or  in  vowels 
have  no  changes  : 


chiefs 

won  eni 

chiefs 
there 
won  acha 

iv  ot  eni 

loot  acha 

yin  eni 

yin  acha 

ylt  eni 

ylt  acha 

atem  eni 

atem  acha 

atlp  eni 

a$ep  acha 

lyeh  eni 

lyen  acha 

lyecli  eni 

lyech  acha 

len  eni 

lyen  acha 

lek  eni 

lek  acha 

ten  eni 

tdn  acha. 

')  In  the  plural   the  final   consonants  —  if  mute  - 
are  to  be  pronounced  voiceless,  that  is  as  real  k  ch  t  y. 


—     19 

ror  ok  these  kings  -  -  from  ror 
gin  an  this  thing  —  from  gin 
pi  an  this  water  —  from  pi 
len  an  this  war  —  from  len. 

There  is  another  kind  of  demonstrative 
pronoun,  expressed  merely  by  the  change  of  the 
final  consonant  described  above.  It  has  somewhat 
the  character  of  the  English  definite  article.  Its 
use  seems  to  be  restricted  to  the  nouns  ending 
in  k  t  t  p  ch,  go,  ro  (do)  do,  jo,  for  instance : 
won  this  house  (the  house  spoken  of  or  just 

mentioned) 
ran  this  king  (the  one  just  mentioned). 

The    demonstrative    pronoun    standing    for    a 
noun. 

men  an  this   one 
mok  ak  these  ones. 


24.  The  Reflexive  Pronoun. 

It  is  formed  with  the  help   of  re  "body". 
rea  a  tdtd  ki  kiveyo  "my  body  gave  I  with  wound" : 

I  wounded  myself 

rei  a  toti  ki  kweyo  thou  woundedst  thyself 
re  a  tote  ki  kweyo  he  wounded  himself 
rei  won  a  tote  won  ki  kweyo  we  wounded  ourselves 
rei  wun  a   tote  wun    ki  kweyo   you  wounded   your- 
selves 
rei  gen  a  tote  gen  ki  kweyo  they  wounded  themselves 

or: 

a  neka  re  he  killed  himself 
g&  neka  rei  gen  they  killed  themselves. 

25.   "I  myself"   etc.  is  expressed: 
d  gwoke  yti  ki  rea  "it  was  done,  I  with  my  body"  : 
I  myself  did  it 

2* 


—    20 

d  gwoke  yi  ki  rei  you  yourself  did  it 

•d  gwoke  e  kere  ho  himself  did  it 

d  gwoke  wo  ki  rei  won  wo   ourselves  did  it 

d  gwoke  wu  ki  rei   wiin  you  yourselves  did  it 

d  gwoke  ge  ki  rei  gen  they  themselves  did  it. 

or: 

a  gwoke  ya  keta  I  did  it  myself 
a  gwoke  yi  keti 
a  gwoke  e  ket,e 
a  gwoke  ivo  kfrte  won 
a  gwoke  wu   kvte  ivun 
a  gwoke  ge  kete  gen. 

This  has  also  the  meaning:  I  did  it  alone. 


26.  The  Adjective. 

a.  The  simple  adjective  connected  with  a  noun. 
yat  tree,  yan  fen  small  tree,  yan  duon  big  tree 
yen  trees,  yen  fono  small  trees,  yen  ddno  big  trees 
rejo  fish,  ren  cliyek  short  fish 
rechi,  recli  fishes,  recla  chyeko  short  fishes 
yet  neck,  yen  bar  long  neck 
yeti  necks,  yeti  baro  long  necks 
lejo  tooth,   leji  tar  white  tooth 
lek  teeth,   leke  tar  white  teeth 
yit  leaf,  yin  lei  bitter  leaf 
yiti  leaves,  yiti  bel  bitter  leaves 
gyeno  chicken,  gy^no  kwaro  red  chicken 
gyen  chickens,  gyen  kwaro  red  chickens. 

In  these  connections  the  same  changes  take 
place  as  in  the  demonstrative  pronoun. 

The  examples  given  above  show,  that  some 
adjectives  have  a  plural  form  distinguished  from 
the  singular,  but  most  of  them  have  for  the  singular 
and  plural  the  same  form. 

All  these  combinations  may  have  two  meanings  : 

1 .  attributive :  a  small  tree,  a  large  tree 

2.  predicative :  the  tree  is  small,  the  tree  is  large. 


—     21     — 

b.  The  adjective  prefixed  by  md  (often  pro- 
nounced me). 

These    are    exclusively    attributive.      No    con- 
sonant-changes   take    place.       -   md  is    the  relative 
pronoun  "which".     The    adjectives   with   md  seem 
to  be  more  emphatic  than  those  under  a. 
wot  mdduon  a  big  house 
wot  mddono  big  houses 
rit  inddoch  a  good  king 
ror  mddoch  good  kings. 

27.  Many  adjectives  are  used  as  verbs,  as 
such  they  generally  have  two  forms  5  for  instance : 
dbno  to  become  big,  to  grow  up ;  to  be  in  the 

process  of  becoming  big 
duon  to  be  big  (an  accomplished  state) 
rviio  to  become  bad,  to  act  badly 
rack  to  be  bad 

IEHO  to  become  hot,  to  feel  hot 
let  to  be  hot. 

28.  Comparison. 

The  means  of  comparing  an  object  with 
another  are  rather  scanty,  the  people  not  feeling 
the  need  of  comparison  as  we  do.  They  simply 
say:  this  thing  is  big,  and  that  one  is  not  big. 

The  most  common  way  of  expressing  a  higher 
degree  is  to  lengthen  the  vowel,  and  at  the  same 
time  to  raise  the  tone,  Both  are  done  to  such  a 
degree,  and  with  such  great  variation,  that  they 
cannot  be  expressed  in  writing. 

There    are  some  other   means  of  comparison, 
which  are,  however,  not  much  used: 
ye  da  dqk  mdfot  dqk  pyaro   "he  has  cows  surpassing 

cows  ten"  :  he  has  more  than  ten  cows. 
ji  a  tou,  ge  Jodq  je  ddek    "people  died,    they  sur- 
passed people  three"  :  more  than  three  people 
died. 
For  more  examples  see  the  "short  sentences". 


—     22     — 
29.  The  Numerals. 

dkyel  1  pyaro  wi  dbikyel  16 

dryau  2  pyaro  wi  dbiryau  17 

ddek  3  pyaro  wi  dbidek  18 

dnwen  4  py&ro  wi  dbmwen   19 

dbich  5  pyar  dryau  20 

dbikyel  6  pyar  wi  ki  dkyH  21 

dbiryau  7  pyar  wi  ki  dryau  22 

dbidek  8  p^/dr  aJeA;  30 

dbmwen  9  pyar  dnwen  40 

pyarb  10  pydr  a&fc/i  50 

pyaro  wi  dkyel  11  p?/^  dbikyel   60 

pyaro  wi  dryau   12  pz/dr  dbiryau  70 

pyaro  wi  ddek  13  p?/dr  dbidek  80 

pyaro  wi  dnwen   14  joydr  dbmwen  90 

pyaro  wi  dbich   15  p^d^  pj/dr  100. 

For  the  connection  of  tens  with  units  there 
are  different  forms;  besides  the  one  given  above 
one  can  say: 

pyaro  wije  da  dkyel  \ 

or :  pyaro  wi  ki  dkyU  \   11. 

("ten,  its  head  has  one")  ) 

The  numeral  follows  the  noun:  zt>o£  dryau  two 
houses. 

30.  Ordinal  Numbers 

are    rarely    used.  They    are    formed    by    simply 

dropping   the    first  a   with   the    exception    of    "the 

first". 

dmdlq  the  first  nwen  the  fourth 

ryau  the  second  Inch  the  fifth 

dek  the  third  pyaro  the  tenth. 

31.  The  Verb. 

Without  an  object. 
stem ;  cham  to  eat  stem :  ket  to  go 


Present. 

ya  (yfi)  chdmo  I  am  eating  ya  kedo  I  am 

yi  chdmo  thou  art  eating  yi  kSdo  going 

e  (ye)  chdmo  he  is  eating  e  (ye)  kedo 

wd  chdmo  we  are  eating  wd  kedo 

wu  chdmo  you  are  eating  imi  kedo 

ge  chdmo  they  are  eating  ge  kedo. 

Imperfect. 

ya  chain  I  ate  y~i  ket  I  went 

yi  chdm  you  ate  yi  ket  you  went 

d  cham  he  ate  d  ket  he  went. 

Perfect. 

yd  de  chdmo  I  have  been  eating 
yd  de  kedo  I  have  been  going. 

First  Future. 

the  u  sometimes  sounds  like  a  very  narrow  o. 
ya  it  chdmo  I  shall  eat  ya  u  ket 

yiii)  wyii chdmo  you.  will  e&t       yi  11,  or  yu  ket 
u  chdmo  he  will  eat  u  ket 

wd  u  chdmo  we  shall  eat         wd  u  ket 
iv u  chdmo  you  will  eat  wu  ket 

ge  u  chdmo  they  will  eat         ge  u   ket. 

The  future  often  has    the  moaning    of   a  con- 
ditional: ya  u  bm:   "I  shall  come",  or  "if  I  come". 

Second  Future, 
ya  u  de  chdmo  I  shall  eat 
ya  u  de  kedo  I  shall  go. 

Habitual. 

ya  lii  chdmo  I  use  or  used  to   eat 
yi  ni  chdmQ  you  use  or  used  to  eat 
e  ni  chdmo  he  uses  or  used  to   eat, 


—     24     — 

Imperative, 

chdm  eat  !  ket  go  !     pi.  kddun  go  ! 

pi.  chamun  eat!  kede  won  let  us  go! 

chain  wa  let  us  eat! 


In  the  present  tense  the  verbs  always  end  in  o. 
The  imperfect  in  most  cases  has  no  final  vowel, 
but  ends  in  the  second  consonant  of  the  stem  ; 
there  are  however  a  few  cases,  where  i  is  added. 
For  instance  a  mil  he  laughed. 

In  the  third  person  sing,  of  the  Imperfect  d  is 
not  the  pronoun,  but  a  particle  denoting  the  past 
tense.  It  is  much  used  in  telling  stories  etc. 

The  habitual  form  denotes  action,  which  is 
done  usually,  either  in  the  present,  or  in  the  past. 
It  is  really  a  mode,  not  a  tense. 

I  have  not  been  able  to  find  a  difference 
between  the  two  futures.  The  first  is  much  more 
used  than  the  last. 

As  the  two  examples  show,  in  one  case  in 
the  first  Future  the  verb  has  the  form  of  the  Present, 
in  the  second  case  the  form  is  different.  There 
is  no  rule  for  which  form  is  to  be  used  in  the 
Future.  But  in  the  Perfect,  Second  Future,  and 
Habitual,  the  verb  has  always  the  form  of  the 
Present. 

In  the  present  tense  the  vowel  of  the  stem 
is  generally  long,  and  has  a  low  tone.  Where  the 
vowel  is  short  in  the  Present,  as  a  rule  the  tone 
is  high. 


32.  The  Verb  with  a  Noun  as  Object. 

Present. 

ya  chamo  by  el  I  am   eating  dura 
yti  kidb  gat  I  am  going  to  the  river. 


25     — 

Imperfect. 

ii£i  chami  byel   \  T  -, 

J  _L     j  v    "v    f~,7  }  1  ate  dura 
ya   chama  byel  J 

ya  Mta  pack  I  went  home. 

Future. 

ya  u  chamo  byel  I  shall  eat  dura 
yn  u  keti  pacli  I  shall  go  home. 

Imperative. 

cham  buel  \ 
7  >     /  i  ~/j  J  eat  dura 
chami  byel  I 

pi.  chamu  byel  eat  dura 
chain  wa  byel  let  us  eat  dura 
fo&0'  pac/t  go  home 

pi.  ketu  pach  go  home 
ket  iva  pach  let  us  go  home. 

In  Perfect,  Second  Future  and  Habitual  the 
verb  has  the  same  form  as  in  the  Present. 

Remarks. 

The  final  o    in  Present  has    the    middle    tone. 

The  Imperfect  has  two  characteristics:  1.  if 
the  second  consonant  of  the  stem  is  mute,  it 
is  generally  voiced  (soft)  in  the  present,  but  it  is 
voiceless  (hard)  in  the  Imperfect;  2.  in  most  cases 
the  final  vowel  is  a,  seldom  i. 

In  some  cases  a  final  t  becomes  /;  see  the 
list  below. 

The  subject  may  be  placed  behind  the  verb; 
this  position  is  frequently  used  in  telling  stories; 
when  ka  "and"  begins  a  sentence,  the  object  always 
precedes  the  verb,  and  the  subject  is  suffixed  to 
the  verb.  This  form  is  used  in  the  Past  only;  it 
has  one  marked  difference  to  the  corresponding 
form  of  the  Passive:  it  has  generally  the  high  tone 
on  both  syllables. 


—     26     — 

rmo  to  run  a  ntige  gon  he  killed  him 

a  rdnd  I  ran  a  bind  I  came 

a  reni  you  ran  a  chivole   he  called 

a  rene  he  ran  but:   a  chwole  he  called 

a  rSn  wd  we  ran  him. 

a  ren  wu  you  ran 

a  r&n  ge  they  ran 

The  plural  forms  are  not  much  used,  the 
corresponding  person  of  the  singular  being  sub- 
stituted. 

The  sign  of  the  Past,  a,  is  sometimes  dropped. 

Sometimes  the  subjective  pronoun  is  employed 
twice,  before  and  behind  the  verb;  for  the  last, 
generally  the  emphatic  form  is  used :  wu  chhm 
wun  you  ate ;  ge  ben  gen  they  came.  ' 

33.  The  Passive  Voice. 

The  characteristic  of  the  passive  voice  is 
the  vowel  with  the  falling  tone,  that  is  a  high 
tone,  which  falls  just  before  its  end.  There  is 
no  final  vowel  •  only  in  a  few  cases  a  final  o  is 
heard.  --  Probably  the  passive  voice  is  originally 
an  intransitive  form  of  the  verb,  denoting  a  state; 
according  to  this  we  can  hardly  speak  of  passive 
tenses,  it  is  rather  a  mood,  an  accomplished 
condition  or  situation.  But  in  many  cases  it  clearly 
conveys  the  meaning  of  a  past  tense ;  sometimes, 
not  very  frequently,  a  future  also  is  formed  by 
prefixing  u,  u. 

Examples. 

d  clidm  it  is,  was  eaten 
d  yot  he  is,  was  found,  yodo  to  find 
ya  gwet  I  (my  name)  was  written,  givMo  to    write 
ya  u  gwet  I  shall  be  written. 

The  doer  of  the  action  may  be  expressed 
either  by  a  pronoun  or  by  a  noun. 


27     — 

a.  by  a  pronoun. 

1.  The  absolute  forms  are  used.     The  'helping 
vowel'    e  is  added  to  the   verb.     In  this    case  the 
stem -vowel   has    a   high   tone,    the    helping  vowel 
being  low. 

a  chdme  (chdme)  ydn  it  was  eaten  by  me 
d  chdme  yin  it  was  eaten  by  you 
d  chdme  gen  it  was  eaten  by  them. 

Sometimes  yl  "by"    is  said  before   the  noun; 
the  'helping  vowel'  is  then  dropped: 
d  cJidm  yl  en  it  was  eaten  by  him. 

2.  The  short  forms  of  the  pronoun  are  used. 
d  kwopa   (or   kwopd    etc.)    it   was    spoken    by    me, 

or:  by  us 

d  kwopi  it  was  spoken  by  thee,    or:  by  you 
d  kwope  it  was  spoken  by  him,  or:  by  them 
d  mdta  it  was  drunk  by  me.  or:  by  us 
d  gwetd  it  was  written  by  me,  or:  by  us. 

b.  by  a  noun. 

Here  always  yl  "by"  is  added: 
d  chdrn  yl  jdl  eni  it  was  eaten  by  this  man. 

It  is  often  difficult,  to  distinguish  the  active 
form  from  the  passive.  A  general  rule  is  this: 
The  Shilluk  prefers  to  speak  in  the  passive  voice  ; 
therefore  the  foreigner  can  also  avoid  misunder- 
standings best  by  using  the  passive  voice  as  much 
as  possible. 

The  differences  between  the  active  and  the 
passive  voice  are : 

1.  the  active  in   the  imperfect  if  followed  by  a 
noun    object,    generally    has    a    final    a,    the 
passive  never  has. 

2.  the  active    in  many,    perhaps   in  most,    cases 
has  in  the  imperfect  a  low  tone,  the  passive 
always  has  either  the  falling  or  the  high  tone. 

3.  The  active    imperfect   sometimes    has  a   long 
vowel ;  in  the  passive  the  vowel  is  generally 
short,  or  rather  half-long. 


—     28     — 

4.  In  some  cases  the  passive  voice  inserts  a 
semivowel  before  the  vowel  of  the  stem: 
fbdo  to  beat,  fwot  beaten.  See  the  list  below. 

34.  Some  examples  for  distinguishing  the  active 
and  passive  form. 

ya  gbcha  (or:  gocha)  jal  an  I  struck  this  man 
ya  goch  yi  jal  an  I  was  struck  by  this  man 
ya  gocha  yin  I  struck  you  (sing.) 
ya  goche  yin  I  was  struck  by  you  (sing.) 
ya  gw-hd  wun  I  struck  you 
ya  goche  wun  I  was  struck  by  you 
d  go.cli  ydnd  he  struck  me 
a  goche  ydn  he  was  struck  by  me 
ya  clidmd  jal  an  I  cheated  this  man 
d  ckdm  yl  jal  an  he  wras  cheated  by  this  man 
d  clidmd  ydn  he  cheated  me 
d  clidrne  ydn  he  was  cheated  by  me 
i/a  chami  en  I  cheated  him 
yn  clidme  en  I  was  cheated  by  him 
yi  clidind  gen  you  cheated  them 
yi  clidme  gen  you  were  cheated  by  them 
ya  chwold  jal  an  I  called  this  man 
ya  cliwol  yl  jdl  an  I  was  called  by  this  man. 


35.  The  Yerbal  Noun  or  Infinitive. 

chain   eating  kedb  going 

cham  an  this  eating  ken    an    this    going,    this 

chdmo  byel  eating  of  dura  walk. 

More  about  these  forms  see  in  the  list. 


36.  The  Noun  Agent. 

The  doer  of  the  action  expressed  in  the  verb. 
There  are  two  forms,  one  for  expressing  an  occa- 
sional, and  the  other  the  habitual  action. 


—     29    — 

90.90.  to  work: 

nane  gqgo  one  who  is  working  just  now,  or  occa- 
sionally 
nate  ywok   one  who  works  habitually,  a  workman. 

mado  to   drink: 

nane  mado  one  who  is  drinking  just  now 
nate  mat  one  who    drinks  habitually,  a  drinker. 

37.  The  Negation  of  the  Verb. 

There   are    two    negative  particles:  fa  or    la, 
and  nuti ;   nuti    originally  means   "not  yet",   but  is 
often  used  in  the  same  way  as  fa  "not".     Fa  and 
nuti  are  applied  in  the  imperfect  and  present. 
yd  fa  ket  I  did  not  go,  or:  I  shall  not  go 
ya  nuti  kMb,  or  ket  I  have  not  gone  yet. 

A  single  word  is  negated  by  fat,  fate:  fate 
yan  (it  is)  not  I ;  fate  en  not  he ;  fate  jal  eni  not 
this  man. 

The  prohibitive  is  expressed  by  ku: 
yi  ku  ket  do  not  go ! 
pi.  wu  ku  ren  do  not  run! 

38.  The  auxiliary  verb  "to  hare":  da. 

ya  da  nyei'i  I  have  money 
ge  da  ivot  they  have  a  house. 

39.  The  auxiliary  verb  to  be. 

1.  The  predicate  is  a  noun. 

a.  fa,  La:  yd  ba  rit  I  am  king 

b.  bana,  bane,  fane,  fan  en  it  is  he. 

c.  by  the  emphatic  pronoun:  yana  rit 

d.  by  the  simple  pronoun:  ya  rit 

e.  by  a:  en  ft  rit  he  is  king. 

2.  The  predicate  is  an  adjective  or  an  adverb. 

a.  ya :  e  ya  ken  where  is  he  ? 

b.  yena:  e  yena  nial  he  is  above 

c.  b~edo  "to  stay,  remain"  ;    is  also  employed 
in  the  sense  of  1. 


40.  4  List  of  Verbs 


English 

Present 

Imperfect 

Future 

to  laugh 

e  nEto 
he  laughs 

a  iieti 

u  nEti 

to  drink 

yd  mado 
I  drink 

ya  mat 
ya  mdtd  pi 
ya  mdti  pi 

it  m&db 

to  carry 

yd  tedb 

yd  tet 
yd  tera  ydt 

u  tMb 

to  run 

e  rmb 

a  ren 

u  reni 

to  lie, 
tell  a  lie 

e  /Mb 

d  Jet,  a  fyet 

u  /Mb 

to  work 

yd  gogb 

yd  gok 

u  aogb 

to  speak 

yd  kbbb 
yd  kdrnb  ktcop 

yd  kop 
yd  koma  kwop 
I  spoke   a   word 

u  kbbb 

to  carve, 
to  write 

yd  qivftdb 

i7             iJ 

a  gwet 
yd  gwvti  waiio 
I  wrote  a  book 

u  ywMo 

to  beat 

yd  fodo 

ya  fot^ 
ya  fotd  nate 

u  fodo 

to   call 

yd  chwoto 
yd  chwoto  nal 

a  clnvQtl 
a  cliwola  nal 

u  clnvoti 

to  cut 

yd  nil  do 

yd  nut 
yd  nuti  yat 
yd  nota  yat 

u  iiudo 

to  kill 

yd  nagb 

ya    nekl 
yd  nekd  </*/<'/ 

u  neki 

to  search 

yd   (/abb 

ya  yap 

u  yfrbb 

ill  their  different  Forms. 


Passive 

Imperative 

Verbal  Noun 

Noun  Agent 

— 

niti 
n^tun 

iiVto 
nyer  an 
this  laughing 

ndne  nfcto 

a  mat 

mat 
mddurv 

mat 
man  an 

nane  mado 
note  mat 

yat  d  ter 
the  wood 
was  carried 

ter 
te_ru 

ter 
ter  an 

nane  tMo 
nate  ter 

— 

rem 
renun 

reno 

nane  reno 

— 

yi  ku  fet 
do  not  lie 

fyeJ 

fyen  an 

nane  f^do 
nate  fyet 

d  gwok 

{/ok,  gwok 
gogun 

gwok 
gwbn  an 

nane  gogb 
nate  gwok 

d  kwop 

kop,  kobun 

kwop 
kwom  an 

nan  kobb 
nate  kwop 

d  gwei 

givet,  gwEcluji 
gwedi  wano 

givet 
gwen  an 

nane  gwedo 
nate  givet 

d  fwot 

fdt,  fwot 
fodun 

fiibdo 
fubn  an 

nane  fubt 

d  cliwol 

chwoti 
cliwol  rial 
cliwotun 

cliwot 
cliwot(!)   an 

nane  cliwot 
nate  cliwot 

d  7\o  t 

nudi 
nudun 

not 
non  an 

nane  nudo 
nate  not 

d  nek 

nak 
nagiin 

nek 
nan  an 

nane  nago 
nate  nek 

d  yap 

yap 
yabiin 

yabo 
yam  an 

nane  yfrbo 

—     32     — 

41.  Adverbs. 

The  adverbs  have  nothing  particular  either  in 
form     or    in    position;    they    are    merely    words; 
therefore  only  a  few  are   given  here  as  examples. 
-  Many  of  the  adverbs  are  nouns  or  verbs, 

Adverbs  of  place. 

ken  lii  i  ka  there 

,"         place;  here,  where 
kun  |  J 

chaki  near  chine  over  there. 

of  time. 

ken  „ place"  :  wrhen  kan  while 

opun  then  anan  now 

chon  formerly  duwa  yesterday 

duki  to-morrow  de  chan  tin  to-day 

of  manner. 

kine,  kinau  thus  kidi  how? 

diet  thoroughly,  certainly      tyau  also. 

42.  Seine  Conjunctioiis. 

ki  and,  with,  connecting  words 

ka  and,  connecting  sentences 

de  but  kit  a  }    . 

dfa     |   that  (PurP°se)- 

43.  Prepositions. 

The   prepositions  are   nouns    and  are    treated 
as  such ;  the  noun   following   them   is  a   genetive ; 

if   they    are   followed  by    a   pronoun   it    is    in  the 
possessive  form. 

Ian  "back"  bfm  rit  behind  the  king 

Ml  \    ,,    •  i ji  u  bane  behind  him 

keie]  k^tt  gdn  amidst  them. 


33     - 


bbl  "front" 

nim  "face" 
bute  "side" 
wich  "head" 

yech  "middle" 
dyer  "middle" 
kwbm  "back" 


bt>l  pack  in  front  of  the 

village 

nim  nam  facing  the  river 
bute  gol  beside  the  fence 
wiy  yat  on  the  top  of 

the  tree 
yey  gen  in   the  midst  of 

them 
dyer  wot   in    the   middle 

of  the  house 
kwbm  kyen  on  the  horse. 


44.  Interjections. 

The  Shilluks  are  very  fond  of  using  inter- 
jections 5  every  mood  is  expressed  by  some  inter- 
jection. They  are,  however,  so  manifold,  and 
change  so  arbitrarily  according  to  the  degree 
and  kind  of  mood,  that  they  can  hardly  be 
rendered  in  writing.  Most  ample  differences  of 
tone  are  employed  here,  the  low  tone  as  a  rule 
being  the  medium  of  expressing  vexation,  dis- 
appointment, and  contempt;  the  high  tone:  joy, 
astonishment,  admiration. 
Some  examples. 

buh9  a  expressing  surprise 

boi,  6  expressing  surprise 

mui  expressing  horror 

a,  E  expressing  contempt 

wau  hurrah! 


II.  Short  Sentences. 
I. 

et  chwbl  Nadok  go,  call  Nyadok! 
bUb  ken?  f  . 

yb  ken?      f  where  1S  he? 

Westermann,  Shilluk-English. 


—     34     — 

yd  ganby  nate  yd  fach  I  think,    the  man   is  in    the 

village. 
a  cliwole  ym?   he  is    called  (by)    you?  =  did   you 

call  him? 

awo,  a  chwol  yes,  he  is  called  =  has  been   called. 
e  btnb  he  is  coming. 
e    leti   a   ken?   he    was    seen    (by)    you   where?  = 

where  did  you  see  him? 
e    letd  ki   wot  bwori    he    was    seen  (by)    me  in    the 

house  of  the  white  man. 

nut  I  beno  not  yet  came  =  he  has  not  yet  come. 
yd  u  ket,  u  chwble  en  I  shall  go,  shall  call  him  = 

shall  I  go  and  call  him? 
jivan  kedb  make  haste  going  =  go  quickly. 
wot   jaqb    ya  ket'i?   house   of  chief  is  \ 

where?  (where  is  the 

wbt  jagb  agon  6n1  house   of  chief  is  ( house.  of  the 

where  it?  chiei? 

mite  ydn  yo  show  me  the  way. 
yd  niito  yo  I  show  the  way. 
jdl   eni   naje   ym?    man    this    is    known    thee?    Do 

you  know  this  man? 
fyeje   dwdtd   no    ask    him    (he)    wants    what  —  ask 

him  what  he  wants! 
yd  dwdtd  kedb  I  want  to  go. 
yi  k&ld  ken°!  you  come  from  where? 
yd  kfrld  gol  rit   I  come  from  enclosure   of  king  = 

I  come  from  the  king. 
yi  wore  yi  men?  you  were  sent  by  whom?  =  who 

sent  you? 
amen   a   a    wore  yin?   who   is    it    he    sent    you?  = 

who  sent  you? 
yd    wore  yi  jago  I   was    sent  by  chief  =  the  chief 

sent  me. 

e  dwdtd.  no?  he  wants  what? 
e  kb,  yi  kete  yie  he  says  you  may  go  to  him. 
yd  bd  yei  be_no  I  not  can  come  =  I  cannot  come. 
bu  ken  md  btn  dnan  (there  is)  wanting  place  which 


—     35     — 

to  come  now  =  I  have    no  time  (no  oppor- 
tunity) to  come  now. 

yd  u  bl  tin  uwar  I  shall  come  this  evening. 
min  an  bd  yu  Fakoi?  This  one  not  way  (to)  F.  = 

is  this  the  way  to  F.? 
yo  en?  is  this  the  way? 
awo,  i/o  en  yes,  this  is  the  way. 
yu  an,  fate  ki  en  this  is  the  way,  not  that  one. 
yd  u  nute  yi  ki  yo  I  shall  show  you  the  way. 
yi  u  (yu)  nuta  yo  you  shall  show  I  way  =  I  shall 

show  you  the  way. 
yo  doch?  Is  the  road  good? 
yd  gano,  fi  gir  ki  yo  I  think,  water  much  on  way 

=  there  is  much  water  on  the  road. 
kot  d  moki  duwa  rain  dropped  yesterday  =  it  rained 

yesterday. 

kot  ni  moki  ki  chan  it  rains  every  day. 
men    an    bd  yo  Mte   Fakoi   this    one  is   way  going 

F.  =  this  is  the  way  to  F. 
cliate  mdl  diet  go   on  exactly  =  go  straight  on. 

II. 

yi  b&t  ddl?  you  are  how  =  how  are  you? 

yd  nuti  b&do  I  still  am  —  I  am  well. 

jdl   an  e  da  jwok  man  this  he  has  sickness  =  this 

man  is  sick. 
yi  but   ki   dno?  you   lie    with    what?  =  what    ails 

you? 
tyele  da  ken  let  foot  his  has  place  hot  =  his    foot 

has  a  wound. 

nute  ydn  tt/eli  show  me  your  foot! 
ken  let  kake   duon?   place    hot  time    big?  =  is    the 

wound  old? 

rune  nMo  years  its  many  =  it  is  several  years  old. 
ere  yi  nuti  jwani  be_no  ?  why  you  not  yet  hastened 

coming?  =  why   did  you  not  come   earlier? 
yd  ketl  yi  djwdgo  I  went  to  the  witch-doctor. 
yd  tote  ydt  I  was  given  tree  =  he  gave  me  medecine. 

3* 


3G 

yd  tdta  ydt  I  gave  medicine. 

yd  u  Iwok  ken  let  I  shall  wash  the  wound. 

yi  re  ywon?  you  why  cry?  =  why  do  you  cry? 

ken  let  e  ramo  the  wound  aches  (pains). 

ydt  dndn  here  is  medecine. 

Iwok  ken  let  ki  chan  ki  mol  wash  the  wouud  every 

morning ! 

yi  Rn?  you  heard?  =  did  you  understand? 
kwope    d    lm?    his    talk    was    heard?  =  did    you 

understand  him? 
awo,  yd  lln  yes,  I  understood. 
rum     chan     dbikyel    In    kite    finish    day    six    come 

again  =  after  six  days  come  again! 
ken  let  d  nokl  the  wound  has  healed. 
ye  k&ld  dan  they  brought  a  man. 
dan  d  kal  a  man  has  been  brought. 
d  chwop  yl  ton  he  has  been  pierced  with  a  spear. 
d  chwop  ki  k6re  ki  ton  he  is  pierced  in  breast  with 

spear  =  his    breast   has    been    pierced    by   a 

spear. 

III. 

kal  may  (mach)  kworo  bring  a  lamp  ! 

kbt  mdcli  make  a  fire ! 

e  kbdo  mdcli  he  makes  a  fire. 

d  kbtd  mdcli  he  made  a  fire. 

mdcli  d  kot  a  fire  was  made. 

mdcli  ba  lyel  the  fire  does  not  burn. 

yen  tech  the  wood  is  wet. 

yi  tald  no  tin?  you  cooked  what  to-day? 

yd  tald  gyerio  I  cooked  a  fowl. 

bak  nwole  gyeno    dhweii  ki  fi   boil  four    eggs  (with 

water). 

rino  t$k  the  meat  is  hard. 
chip   gin    chdm    wiy  (wich)   pant   put  the    food    on 

the  ( table! 
wu  ben  (btino)  wu  cham?  you  all  you  ate?  =  have 

all  of  you  eaten? 


—     37     — 

ge   fwoclid    chdk    they    churn    milk  =  they    make 

butter. 

chdk  d  fwoch  milk  is  churned. 
ge  nekd  duel  they  killed  a  goat. 
yd  dwdtd  mate  fi  I  want  to  drink  water. 
hot  may  kworo  light  the  lamp! 
nek  macli  kill  the  fire  =  put  the  lamp  out! 
kon  fi  yey  fiik  pour  water  into  the  pot! 

IV. 

tyete  chanduk  kite  wot  carry  box  put  house  =  carry 

the  box  into  the  house! 
men  an  pek  this  one  is  heavy. 
ba    teri  yd    ketd    not    carry    I    alone    1  =  1   alone 

cannot  carry  it. 
chwole  jdl  en,   yi  konye  en    call    this  man,    you  be 

helped  (by)  him  =  that  he  may  help  you. 
biy  icd  tErl  ydn  an  come,  we  (will)  carry  this  tree. 
wd  u  gera  wot  we  will  build  a  house. 
wot   kit   wdld   wot    labo    a    stone    house    or    a    mud 

house? 

bu  kide  ken      \ 

bu  kit  ki'ken  (   there  are  no   stones  here' 
yd  u  chivbld  ji  ddi?  how  many  people  shall  I  call? 
cliwol  ji  pyaro  call  ten  men ! 
yd  yiti  ki  je  dbi-kyel  I  found  six  men. 
ge  u  bl  duki  they  will   come  to-morrow. 
wd  u  gwo  no  ?  (givok  ano)  what  shall  we  do  ? 
ivd  dwdtd  gwbk  ki  yin  we  want  to   work  with  you. 
wd  u    tote  nyen   gd  ddi    we   shall    be  given    money 

it  how?  =  how   much  money    shall  we  get? 
kd    logi   wu  purl    ken  an    if   (it   happens)  you   hoe 

this  place 

wu  totd  lau  mddoch  you  shall  give  I  a  nice  cloth. 
bi  yu  ])    duki  mol   come  (you)    to-morrow  morning 


')  instead    of  bi   wu;    w  is   assimilated   by  i  and  thus 
has  become  if. 


—     38     — 

kd  u  kanu  ki  kwerl  and  bring  (you)  hoes ! 

Ji  gUgo  yo  the  people  make  a  road. 

yi  gwo  no?  what  are  you  doing? 

yd  gwokd  pam  I  made  a  table. 

ddkdu   e  chwayo   ki  fuki    ki  dak   the  woman   forms 

big  pots  and  small  pots  (tobacco  pipes). 
e  kbnd  fen   ki  yat   he  strikes    ground  with   tree  = 

he  strikes  a  pole  into  the  ground. 
e  futa  yat  he  pulled  the  pole  out. 
ge  pona    lum    ki  yey  by  el  they  weed    grass  in   the 

midst  of  dura  =  they  weed  the  dura. 

qe    ban  qwok    ki  bivon    they  refused   to   work   with 
*  -it* 

the  white  man. 

e  ban  ki  t\r  chanduk  he  refused  to  carry  the  box. 
amen  a  gwok  tanduk?  who  made  the  box? 
ge  bdkd  kdl  they  fenced  (in)  the  yard. 
chon   yd  ni  kwai    do  (dok)  wiya    sometimes  I  used 
to  herd  the  cattle  of  my  father. 

V. 

Fworio  u  chagl  wen  a?  teaching  will  begin  time 
which?  =  when  will  school  begin? 

nyi  chago  mol  it  uses  to  begin  in  the  morning. 

wotono    ddi  btno   how  many    children  have    come  ? 

nan-tono  gen  abi-ryau  d  bi  boys  they  seven  have 
come  —  seven  boys  h.  c. 

wu  re  nuti  btn  duwd  ?  you  why  not  came  yester- 
day? =  why  did  you  not  c.  y.? 

yd  ivore  yi  wd  be  kwdi  dok  I  was  sent  by  my 
father  to  herd  the  cattle. 

ivd  u  givMo  tin  we  will  write  to-day. 

yi  kald  ivarii?  did  you  bring  your  book? 

m ed  weyd  fach  mine  left  I  home  —  I  left  mine  at 
home. 

tote  yd  wdno  give  me  a  book! 

kd  logo  wu  gfike  ydn  clian  wun  ddek  wu  tote  ki  irai'tn 
if  it  happens  you  work  me  days  them  three, 
you  are  given  with  book  =  if  you  work 
three  days  for  me,  you  will  receive  a  book, 


—     39     — 

wd  dwdtd  gwbk  Id  yin  we  want  to  work  with  you. 
wd  u  tote  iii) en  gd  adl  ?  we  shall  be  given  money  it 

how?  =  how  much  money  shall  you  give  us? 
kd  logi  (=  logo)  wu  purl  ke?i  an,   wu  totd  bet  md- 

dSich  if  you  hoe   this  place,    I  will  give  you 

("you  give  I")  a  nice  fish-spear! 
bi  yd  dukl  kd  u  kanii  ki  kwerl  come  you  to-morrow 

and  bring  hoes  (with  you)! 

VI. 

ndm  e  dbho  the  river  is  rising. 

ndm  e  dwen  the  river  is  falling. 

ndm  duon  chare   1      , 

niim  fani  cMr~e    \     the  river  1S  veiT  hlgh,  ML 

ivd  u  mayo  rech  we  will  fish  (catch  fish). 

wd  chegq  rech  we  catch  fish  (with  a  hook). 

ivd  chekd  rech  we  caught  fish  (with  a  hook). 

ge  tyeha  yd  (yai)  they  carve  a  boat. 

yei  toyo  the  boat  leaks. 

ndm  nerib  ki  ndm  crocodiles    are  numerous    in  the 

river. 
nan    d    mdkd    dan    duwa    the    croc,   caught    a    man 

yesterday. 

VII. 

men  an  bd  wd  this  (one)  is  my  father. 

toni  dgon  en?  where   is  your  spear    (spear  your  is 

where  he)  ? 

ivode  d  repl  yi  mdch  his  house  was  caught  by  fire. 
doge  d  reh  his  cows  ran  away. 
men  an  bd  wot  wun  ?  is  this  your  house  ? 
ge  neaii  by  el  gen  they  have  sold  their  dura. 
d  kwdnd  kwena  he  took  my  bread. 
hvbk  lam  (from  lau!)  wash  your  loin-cloth! 
land  d  Iwok  my  cloth  is  washed. 
nut  I  Ibgd  nine  he  has  not  yet  washed  his  face. 
ddera  e  kwdmo  my  donkey  is  laming. 
nute  ydn  fii'oti  show  me  your  farm! 


—     40 

db  (=  dok)  won  e  ch&mb  lum  our  cows  are  grazing. 
bei  nMo  ki  fbte  icon  there  are  many  mosquitoes  in 

our  country. 

nwole  ge  tb  their  children  are  dead. 
lana  a  kwdl  my  loin-cloth  is  stolen. 
d  mudjd  gy%ne  ki  by  el  he  gave  his  fowls  (hens) 

dura. 
yd  Ivta  dyek  un  kele  yen   I  saw   your  goats    in  the 

bush. 
yd  pwotl  yen    (=  yi  en)    I  was    beaten  by   him  = 

he  beat  me. 
d  twoclil  gen  he  was  bound  by  them  =  they  bound 

him. 

amen  d  cliwole  ydn^  who   called  me? 
yd  cliwole  yi  men?  I  was  called  by  whom? 
ivd    tpte   nyen    yi   obwon    the    white    man    gave    us 

money  (we  were  given  m.). 

d  kobl  (kopl)  di  ki  yin  ?  what  did  he  tell  you  ? 
ge  riene  yin  ?  do  you  see  them  ? 
d  pytyd  gen  he  asked  them. 
wu  konyd  I  will  help  you  ("you  will  help  I")! 
wo  nete  yi  gen  they  laughed  at  us  ("we  were  1.  at"). 
amen  d  kopl  yin  ki  ntok?  who  told  you  this? 
yd  niite  en  gole  I  was  shown  by  him  his  home  = 

he  showed  me  his  home. 

ge  miijd  rit  ki  dok  they  gave  cattle  to  the  king. 
obwon  d  mite  yo  yi  gen  the  white  man  was  shown 

the  way  by  A  them. 

ge  rnujd  dean  ki  lum  they  gave  the  cow  grass. 
ge  cliwota   nyen   ki  ye  they  asked    him  for   money. 
ge  chwola    nyeji  ki  ye  they    asked  him    for  money. 

he  asked  for  the  chief' 


yei  d  wan  the  boat  approached. 

yd  d  wati  the  boat  left. 

yei  d  clmn  the  boat  stopped. 

ge  noto  yen  they  are  felling  trees. 

woman  romo  fi  the  women  fetch  water. 

aS  nyeto  dok  they  are  milking  cows. 


—     41     — 

VIII. 

kdpi  mht  speak  slowly! 

M  ])  ni  jwdne    kwop   not    use  hasten    speech  —  do 

not  speak  quickly ! 
yd  nuti  lino  I  did  not  understand. 
yd  bd  lino  I  do  not  understand. 
e  kobl  di2)  ki  yin?  what  did  he  say  to  you? 
yd  dwdtd  Ion  achem  I  want  straight  sticks. 
kwdn  dor  an  take  this  adze! 
daclio    u  yiego    labb   the    women  shall    (may)    carry 

mud! 

ge  chabo  labb  they  knead  mud. 
d  chapd  labb  he  kneaded  mud. 
dbre  wot  d  pat  the  house  has  fallen  down. 
re  let  his  skin  is  hot  =  he  is  lazy. 
yi  re  ywon?  why  do  you  cry? 
mio   dbti  nare  the  mother  suckled  her  child. 
wiye  da  riwogo  (his  head  =)  he  has  lice. 
woton  e  two  go  the  children  wash  themselves. 
a  iwok  he  is  washed. 
china   (china    a)    kayo    my    intestines    ache  =  my 

belly  aches. 

wija  kago  my  head  splits  =  I  have  a  head-ache. 
e  bl  riotyenb  he  came  some  days  ago. 
wd   yend    Bura-Chol    chdn   wd    bd  pyarb   we    were 

Taufikia    days    our  are    10  =  we  have    been 

at  T.  ten  days. 
rund    bd  pydrq  wi  ki  dbich    my  years  are    15  =  I 

am   15  years  old. 

IX. 

rune  d  mat,  rund  yd  chdn  his  years  are  above, 
my  years  are  behind:  he  is  older  than  I. 

bd  duon  ne  ydn  he  is  not  so   old  as  I. 

yd  mold  ben  e  tok  I  was  first  coming  he  was 
absent  =  I  came  earlier  than  he. 


1)  or:  yi  ku. 

2)  from  adi,  edi  how? 


—     42 

d    cliwon    e    beno    he    was    behind    he    came  =  he 

came  late. 

yi  bl  d  wen  a  wh,en  did  you  come  ? 
Jeno    gMo    lo^no    chine   the    Dinkas    build    (=  live) 

beyond  the  river. 
kal  gyin    an    much    obivoti    carry   these    fowls   give 

the    white    man  =  bring   these    fowls    to    the 

white  man. 

nim  amen?  what  is  your  name? 
mna  ba  Nadok  my  name  is  Nyadok. 
ico  nin  amen?  what  is  yours  father's  name? 
kwo  })  gin  an  take  this  (thing) ! 
gin  an  ba  mea  this  is  mine. 
tote  ydn  mei  give  me  yours! 
ge  nekd  duel  they  killed  a  goat. 
lyela  wija  I  (had)  cut  my   hair  ("head"). 
yd  u  clidkd  kedo  I  begin  go  =  I  will  go,  I  must  go. 
tide  chan^the  sun  rises. 
clian   a  tul  the  sun  has  risen. 
bute  clian  the  sun  sets. 
chan  d  bute  the  sun  has  set. 
ge  geti  Nikano    ki   dean    they  sacrificed    a   cow    to 

Nyikang. 

yd  nebo  I  am  wet. 
Iwbki  Ian  wash  this  cloth ! 
dane    dacho    e  Ibgb    ki    Ian    the   woman    is    washing 

the  cloth. 

yvy 2)  wot  sweep  the  house ! 
Iwok  taml  (tabo  pot)   clean  this  pot! 
fen  fd  mbdq  it  is  dark. 
e  nekl   6g\k  aryau  he  killed  two  buffaloes. 
d  khnl  fyen  ogik  kd  go  weki  rit   he  took  the  skin 

of  the  buffalo  and  gave  it  to  the  king. 
tun9)    dnwdk    bar   the    horns  of  the  bush-buck  are 

long. 

!)  for  kiv6n. 

2)  from    yejo. 

3)  or:  ton. 


—     43     — 

bber  win  an  tar  the  feathers  of  this  bird  are  white. 

e  budo  key  (ken)  /yen  he  is  lying  on  the  bed. 

e  ya  gole  jago  he  is  at  the  chiefs  house. 

e  ketd  yi  obwon  kwarb  he  went  to  the  (red)  European. 

Joge  dbk  ylno  drive  the  cattle  away. 

byel  a  chek  the  dura  is  ripe. 

kachu  byel  kd  ge  kalun  strip  (you  pi.)   off  the  dura 

and  bring  it ! 

je  chdnb  the  people  are  dancing. 
e  yabo  dok  he  searched  cattle. 
dbk  a  yaf  the  cattle  were  searched  for. 
gwok  ku  gbcli  (dog  not  strike)  do  not  beat  the  dog! 
e  clidmd  rino  he  ate  meat. 
a  gwecJia  gwok    ki   tyele    he   kicked   the    dog   with 

his  foot. 

fen  let  de  chant  tin    it  ("the  earth")  is  hot  to-day. 
yd  fa  yel  ki  kwofe  \  T    ,  ,    ,.          ,  . 

yd  fay*  ki  Jgi  ]  l  do  not  bellove  ^1S  word' 
yei  mdch  a  chum  the  steamer  stops. 
tvro  kltd  yen  yi  yei  the  people  bring  wood  on  the 

steamer. 

weki  ya  fali  give  me  your  knife! 
ken  ii  rum,  won,  wo  cliarn  when  we    have  finished, 

we  shall  eat. 

ken  a  bene,  fen  fa  war  when  he  came,  it  was  night. 
fi  ba  chatb  the  water  does  not  move. 
yGmb  gir  (there  is)  much  wind. 
4  chdkd    e  wiim  kope  ydn9    nuti  kedb    "he    began    it 

finished  (be)  told  (by)  me,  he  not  yet  went" 

=  though  I  told  him,  he  did  not  go. 
ba  yei  gwok  iin,   md  re  (or  mde)  da  jivbk  he  cannot 

work  to-day,  because  he  is  sick. 
bd    kwdpe    yen,  mde    boko   he  does   not  say  it,    be- 
cause he  is  afraid. 
jivdni    reno,    kipa   yi    ku    cliwon    run    quickly,    lest 

you  be  late ! 
kop  tin  chwaki  mdl,  kipa  ge  Iin  yi  tero  beno  "speak 

lift  your  voice    up,    that   they   be    heard   by 


—     44     — 

people  all"  :  speak;  aloud,  so  that  all  people 

may  hear  it! 
chip  kwofi  bol  kech  gen,  kd  logo  yu  (yi  u)  de  bdno, 

u    yote   yin  tin    "put    your    words    face    their 

place,    if  it  happens   you    will  refuse,    it  will 

be   found   to    you    to-day"  —  tell   the    truth, 

or  you  will  be  punished. 
bi   icof,  fa   yu    (=  yi    o)    nepe  kot   come   into    the 

house,  lest  you  become  wet! 
ka  logo  yu  bi  tin,    doch  if  you    come  to-day,    it  is 

well. 
kd  logo  u  kSbo  todo,  u  fwote  icon  if  he   tells  a  lie, 

he  will  be  beaten  by  us. 

X. 

kipano  a  boki?  why  are  you  afraid? 

kipano  a  bdke?  why  is  he  afraid? 

yd  fa  boki  I  am  not  afraid. 

ge  re  Tin  gen?  "they  why  run  they"  =  why  do 
they  run? 

kuche  ydn  I  do  not  know. 

naje  ydn  I  know. 

yd  bd  g&</Q>  kd  buhi  doro  yd  I  do  not  work,  be- 
cause I  have  no  adze  (.  .  .  "and  not  have 
adze  I"). 

yd  bu  doro,  benen  a  dale  ydn  yi  givok  "1  have  no 
adze,  that  is  it  it  is  difficult  for  me  to  work" 
=  I  have  no  adze,  therefore  I  cannot  work. 

tt/etd  let,  benen  a  bd  kedd  my  foot  has  a  wound, 
therefore  I  do  not  (=  cannot)  go. 

yd  bd  yei  kedo,  md  tyeld  let  I  cannot  go,  because 
my  foot  is  sore. 

adero  e  da  kech,  benen  a  ywohi  the  donkey  was 
hungry,  therefore  he  was  braying. 

d  yehd  Sura-Choi,  yd  ni  kedo  chuk  ki  chano  while 
I  was  at  Taufikia,  I  used  to  go  on  the  mar- 
ket every  day. 

ken  d  k6ti  won  gat,    mdl  d  mini,  kd    e  rnoko    when 


—     45     — 

we  went  to  the    river,  the  sky  became  dark 

and  it  rained. 
yi  ni  worn  je    mdko,   de  yd  ba    woiie  yin   you  may 

cheat  others,  but  I  shall   not  be  cheated  by 

you. 

a  komi  yen,  de  fate  ydn  he  said  so,  not  I. 
a  gwoke  gen,   de  fate    won    it   was   done    by   them, 

but  not  by  us. 
koni  ydn,  u  jivano  tumo  help  me,   (that  it)  may  be 

finished  quick! 
kopi,    u  jivano    bmo   tell    (him),    he    may    come   at 

once. 
yd  rnhni  kedo  wode  I  was  forbidden  to  go  into  his 

house. 

wA  kede  let  him  go  ! 
wo  kdde  tydu  wo  too  will  go. 
wei  ge  bU  let  them  come! 

ken  yd  nEnd,  e  gogo  while  I  slept,  he  was  working. 
ken  a  yen   wa  fach,    ge  kwald    nyeii   won    while  we 

were  in  town,  they  stole  our  money. 

XI. 

ge  ji   Adi  ki  fun  an  ?   How    many    people    live    in 

this  village? 

wou  nutl  nhto?  Is  your  father  still  alive? 
jagb  nut"!  Is  the  chief  well? 
yi  bet  adi  ?  how  are  you  ? 
yd  bMl  yau  I  am  well. 
icon   an   duon   en   this  is    the    big    (=  the    biggest) 

house. 

en  a  yen  clidn  he  is  the  last. 
ydn  a  kwbm  beno  I  came  first. 
i  biito  yi  fyeno  he  is  lying  on  (his)  bed. 
e  ya  wiy  wot  he  is  on  the  house. 
d  leda  d  cliaki  wot    "he  was  seen  by  me  (he  was) 

near  the  house". 

e  yd  nach  wot  he  was  behind  the  house. 
yd  ket  ken  chnki  ki  gen  I  went  close  to  them. 


—     46 

ya  da  dok  aryau  clioti  gen  I  have  two  cows   (it  is) 

finished  (with)  them  =  I  have  only  two  cows. 
je  dbi  kyel  clioti  gen  d  bi  only  six  men  came. 
yd  letd  gen,  clioti  gen  I  saw  them  (it  was)  finished 

(with)  them  =  I  saw  only  them. 
e  fa  wo-ten,  chotl  he  is  but  a  boy. 
ye   da    dok   mdfot   dok   dbikyel   he    has    cows    sur- 
passing   cows    six  =  he    has    more    than    six 

cows. 

je  d  toil,  ge  fodo  je  ddek  more  than  three  people  died. 
dan  a  daclw  a  yecli  puk  wije  the  woman  lifted  the 

pot  on  to  her  head. 
fttk  d  y%jl  fen  ki  wije  she  puts   the  pot  on  to  the 

ground. 

fuk  d  fane  fi  she  fills  the  pot  with  water. 
e   koni  bur    kl  fen  he    dug   a   hole   in  the    ground. 
gwok  yiebe    e  teico   the    dog   his  tail   wags  =  wrags 

his  tail. 

yite  gwok  a  nol  the  ears  of  the  dog  were  cut  off. 
men  fd  duon  that  is  not  sufficient. 
wo  gwok  ono  de  chan  tin?  what  shall  we  do  to-day? 
kidd?  shalfl  go? 
ket  won?  shall  we  go? 
yd  kedo  be  dwar  I  am  going  shooting. 
yen  e  beno,  ge  kbgo   the  trees   come  they   blossom 

=  begin  to  blossom. 
givliga  d  tuml  my  work  is  finished. 
yd  ydnl  en  I  was  insulted  by  him. 
dean  be_no  e  nwolo  the  cow  is  going  to  calve. 
yi  pivot  ki  ano?  you   were    beaten  with   what?  = 

with  what  did  he  beat  you? 
keii   yigi  yd  fa   bi   the   place    became    (so    that)  I 

not  come(=  I  cannot  come. 
kifano    a  fa    bwi?  why  did  he  not  come? 

XII. 

yi  ku  fet  do  not  lie ! 
yi  ku  kictit  do  not  steal ! 


—     47     — 

ge  gana  rit  they  honoured  the  king. 
ge    man  ki  obwon  they  despised  the  stranger. 
e  bald  gwok  ki  kit  he  threw  stones   at  the  dog. 
yd  den  yi  gen  I  was  pressed  (=  vexed)  by  them. 
kd    logo  e  yd    mdnut,    wo  re    kwonl    en    if  he    were 

present,  we  should  be  helped  by  him. 
kd  logi  ya  da  gm-cham,   yi  re  tptd  If   I  had  food, 

I  should  give  you  (some). 
kd  logo  nuti  beno,    bd  re  yitl    ki  gi-fen    "if  not  yet 

came,    not   should  receive   with  thing    of  the 

earth"  =  if  he  had  not  come,  ho  would  not 

have  received  anything. 
kd  logo  fen  de  yd  inddoch,    wo    re  de  btno    (or :  wo 

re  bi)  if  the  weather  had  been  fine,  we  should 

have  come. 

ge  nako  they  are  fighting. 
ge  werq  they  are  angry. 
gin  an  e  wan  anb  this  thing  it  eye  which  ?  =  what 

does  this  thing  mean? 
kwope   ydn    ki   tyele  gin   em   tell    me    the   meaning 

(("the  foot")   of  this  thing! 
ya   neiid  yuwe  (from  yo)   "I  see  his  way"  =  I  hope 

he  will  come. 

yd  bogo  d  to  we  I  am  afraid  he  will  die. 
ya  bokl  en  I  am  afraid  of  him. 
6  bot?  will  he  recover? 
ge  par  they  fled. 
ndje  ydn   ki  men  duon  (it  is)    known  (to)  me  with 

greatness  =  I  know  it  perfectly. 
u  bi  tin  diet  he  will  surely  come  to-day. 
il  mote  de  btno  perhaps  he  has  come  already. 
dela    ramo    (yamo)    ben   my   whole    body    ("skin") 

is  shaking. 

yen  yd  yey  fen  bme  trees  were  everywhere. 
kwof  eni  d  fare  ydn  I  remember  this  word. 

XII. 

ba   gwbk    gin    eni    kirte  he  will  never  do  that. 
yd  bd  lete  yin  kfrte  you  will  never  see  me  again. 


—     48     — 

d  pwocli   yi   gen,    kd    lok    (logo)    nane    tek    he   was 

praised    by   them,    because   he    was  a   brave 

man. 
d  chdye   yi  gen,    kd    lok    nane    let    he    was    abused, 

because  he  was  a  lazy  one. 
ge  man  ki  gon,    kd  lok   ndte  ker   they  envied    him, 

because  he  was  a  rich  man. 
wo  ba  yei  beii,    ka  de  kot  we  could    not  come    on 

account  of  the  rain. 

d  bi  kech  icen  he  came  instead  of  his  father. 
chwek   d  de    beno    an    ambassador  of  the  king   has 

come. 
yi  kb  di}}    ki  en?   what    do  you    think  ("say")    of 

him? 

yd  fa  bokl  en  I  am  not  afraid  of  him. 
wa  fa  dwata    kono  yi  we    do  not  want  your   help. 
man  ki  jdl  eni  (he)  hated  this  man. 
e  koma  dyer  (dir)  he  says  right  =  he  is  right. 
yi  rono  you  are  wrong. 
d  f&n  he  denied. 
d  yogo  mdnut  he  has  become  a  present  one  —  he 

is  witness. 
kvrd  budl  ye  ki  cliano  my  breast  was  pressed  (tired) 

by   him    all   days  =  he  always  troubled   me. 
kore  ku  ni  but  do  not  trouble  him  (his  breast  not 

tire) ! 

ivel  let  loose! 
miti  hold  fast! 
kwi  je  mdgo  d  bi,  kw?  je  mdgo  d  dbn  some  people 

have  come,    and  some   have    stayed    behind. 
je  d  repl  the  people  are  reconciled. 
d  mem  they  are  reconciled. 
d  bvdi  ge  man  wune  ge  fan  drijau,  de  ge  m&ri  dndn 

,,it    was    they    quarrelled,    their    years    were 

two"   =  they    were     quarrelling    two    years, 

but  now  they  are  reconciled. 


from  kobo  adi. 


—     49     — 

yijd  bano  "my  heart  refuses"  =  I  doubt. 

wije  lal  he  is  ashamed. 

nele  yi  gen  he  was  (laughed  at)  scoffed  at  by  them. 

nete  yi  gen  he  was  (laughed  at)  scoffed  at  by  them. 

rei  wo  tek  "our   body    is  hard"  =  we  are    secure. 

lane  fyet  his  loin-cloth  was  torn. 

wei  b~e  wot  let  him  come  into  the  house ! 

wei  kddd  let  me  go! 

fach  a  dur  fen  y\  gen   the    village    was    destroyed 

by  them. 

dan  e  kord  hare  the  mother  takes  care  of  her  child. 
ge  clidkd  kun  meko  they  took  another  place  =  they 

changed  their  places. 
u  gwqka  yin  (it)  will  (be)   done   (by)  me   (for)  you 

=  I  will  do  it  for  you. 
bi  yii,  wd  kede  come  (you),  we  will  go. 
yije  kono  his  heart  was  excited. 
d  bl  e  nuti  cliam  he  came  without  having  eaten. 
ba  d  ket,  e  nuti  ki  nacho  he  did  not  go   (because) 

he  had  not  yet  taken  leave. 
d  bl  e  ywoho  he  came  weeping. 
d  tou,  e  nuti  ten  he  died,    while  (still)   a  child. 


Westermann,  Shilluk-English. 


III.  Two  ^ible-Texts. 
The  Prodigal. 

11.     Jal      m~eko      wot      dry  an;*)    12.     a    kdbi 
man     some     son         two  said 

ria        nal      fen2)      kine:       wuo,       tote     yan       hi 
child     boy     small     thus:     father     give     me     with 

bun          a          mea      ki  re       jam.         A  fani 

part     which     mine      with      goods.      He      divided 

jdme  ki         gen.       13.    Ka         rumi        clian 

goods  his     with     them.  And     finished     days 

mdnok      ha        nal       fen        d         chona          jdme, 
few      child     boy    small    he    gathered   goods  his, 

ka          ivil  i  fdte      mdldwi;     ki          ka        eni 

and     travelled     country      far;       with     place     this 

a  weti  jdme  ki     ri  clidrn.     14.  Kd 

he    squandered   his  goods    with     eating.  And 

ruini          ki  ivete  jam,        ka          kecli 

finished     with     squandering     goods     and     hunger 

e       btno,        ka  wije  mum.  15.     Ka 

he     came,     and     head  his     perplexed.  And 


*)   "to  have"  is  often  omitted. 

2)  nal   ten  is  "the  younger",  nal  duon  "the  elder  boy". 


51     — 

kSti      in       jal         md          jal       ker })     ki         fon 
-*-      j  -      j  i  •  i  °.  i        •  ~         •>    ^ 

went     to     man     which     man     rich      in      country 

eni;       a  wore          yl       jal        eni       fdl        be 

this ;     he      was    sent      by     man      this      bush     to 

hwayo       ki       kune  don;       16.     a         ton        ki  yey 
herd      with       swine;  he      died      inmidst 

kech.     Kune  don       ni      chdmb       ki      bfado;     nal 
hunger.       swine       used    to  eat    with    bffrdb;    boy 

eni       dwata     riwak       ki         gen;       de  bun 

this      wished      eat     with     them ;     but     not  were 

an       toti        ki      bfado      men  chame. 

this     gave     with    bfado    which    were  eaten  by  him. 

17.    A         rurni        ki          yeje  kete,        kd        e 

He     thought     in     heart  his     alone,     and     he 

kb       kine:      e,  wuo  da         ban     mdnMo, 

said     thus:     ah,     my  father     has     slaves     many, 

ka        lii    cham    gen,    gin  clidm  ni  dbno*).ya      ra 
and     use     eat     they,       food       is    left.       I      why 

nage       rea  ki          kecli1?      18.    A       kobi      kine: 

kill     myself     with     hunger?  He     said     thus : 

wei    yd  dwbdb,     yd    Mti    yi  wuo  u 

let     I  (me)       rise        I     go      to     my  father     will 

k6fd      kine:    ya       de         ronb          ki        yin,         ki 
say      thus:     I      have     sinned     with     thee,     with 

men  duon;3)    19.  yd    fa  myer  ki 

which  (is)      great;  I     not     am  worth     with 

chwblb      ydnd  wadi  kete,         de      wei      yd 

calling     I  am     your  son      again,      but      let      me 


1)  a  man  which  was  a  rich  man. 

2)  and  when  they  eat,  food  is  left. 

3)  I  have  been  sinning  against  you  with  (a  sin)   which 
is  great. 

4* 


52 

logo  bam.          20.     A       dwoni,        ka         e 

become      your  slave.  He       arose      and      he 

bia         yl  wen.  Ka  lete  yl 

came       to       his    father,       and       was    seen       by 

wen,  e  clicune  ivano,  ka 

his   father      he       was    going   to       approach      and 

yfye          ywot'io,       ka      rend         yie,          a  kwdki 
his  heart       cried       and      ran     to  him,      embraced 

rei        gen        ka          do        gon      numi.    21.  A  kobi 
each     other     and     mouth     his     kissed.  said 

ria        nal        ten       kine:       iviio,     yU       Ton          ki 
child     boy     small    thus:     father,     I    sinned     with 

yin          ki         men     duoii,      ka      yd      ku         eliiki 
you       with     which     big       and       I      not      repeat 

cliwolo        ydnd         wddi !)        kvte.      22.  A  cliwole 
be  called     I  am     your  son     again.  Called  he 

wate       ban  ki      yi  iven;  ka          e          kb 

child       slave       by       his  father      and      he       said 

kine:       kanu         ki  lain         ntogo      dock,        ka 

thus:      bring      with     clothes     things     good,      and 

rukh          ndl       an,        ka  Iwete         kitun       ki 

put  on      child     this     and      his  fingers     put     with 

gwel      dttgb,        ka  tyele       kitun      ki          war. 

ring      metal       and      his  feet      put     with      shoes. 

23.  Ka       kalu    wane  chive     ka          nalu,        wei     wd 
And    bring     ox      fat     and     butcher,     let      us 

cliam    won,     wd       nste      icon.  24.       ma  wada 

eat      we,     we     laugh     we.  because     my  son 

dn,      d       yigu       men      to,        de      a  cliyer; 

this    he  became    one  dead,    but    he    became  alive 

*)  "I  must  not  repeat  calling:  I  am  your  son"  :  I  must 
never  be  called  your  son  again. 


—     53     — 

a  yi-9a         men  wano,  de         e 

he      became       one      was   disappeared      but      he 

dubk.  A  yote  gen       be          neto. 

returned.    Was    found  them     they     Tor     laughing. 

25.  De        nal     duon     a      yd       wok,        ka       be_ni 
But     child     big     he    was     bush,     and     came 

die  (chamo)      e  wano,      a        lino    chivake         je 
was  going  to    approach    he    heard    voice    of  people 

ge          tiigo.       26.    A       chwoti       wat        ban,        en 
they     played.  He      called     child      slave     this 

d  py^je       gon      kine:       ano        ena         a          wou 
asked  he     him     thus :      what      this     make     noise 

tBro?          A       kobi      kine:  omyau  d 

people  ?      He      said      thus :      Your  brother      has 

In,         de  a  get         ki  yi      wuo  (wou) 

come,    but     he  was     welcomed    by      your  father 

ki         na        wane    chwe       dma         e         bl  ki 

with    child    of  ox     fat     because    he    came     with 

dqjo.         28.    A  ivire,  ka  ch6g6 

well-being.  He      was  angry,      and      remained 

fdl         e        fa  bl;          d  dwai  yi 

bush,      he      not      came;      he      was  brought      by 

wen,  e         kwdchd        gon.     29.      A  kofe 

his  father,       he       begged       him.  Said  he  to 

wen  kine:    yd     gokd  yin          wund 

his  father     thus :     I     work    (with)  you,    my  years 

n&rio,  dogi  nuti  gan        ydn       ki 

many,     your  mouth     not  yet     thought       I       with 

fyemo  ki         yd)1}          bun  na-onwok 

refusing      with      me ;       not   were       child    of   ram 

1)  "I  work  with  you  my  years  are  many,  I  not  yet 
thought  of  refusing  your  mouth":  I  have  been  working  with 
you  many  years,  and  I  have  never  thought  of  refusing, 
disobeying  your  commandment, 


—     54     — 

ma         gan        yln       ki         iveke      ydn     u    chdmd 
which    thought    you    with     giving     me    to     eat  I 

ki         yachi       won.1)     30.    Ka         Hen          wadi, 
with     friends      our.  And     came     your  son 

nan         a  r%h  jami          a  gite 

a  man  which  spoiled  your  goods,  he  was  welcomed 

yin  ki       ivdne    chwe.  31.  A  kobi  wen 

by  you      with       ox        fat.  Said      his  father 

kine:       e,       wddd,        wd       d  b%t         kdke         fen 
thus:     ah,    my  son,     we       were      time  of     earth 

fa     chakiy     jam          dk  d        yend      ya        ben, 

not     near,   goods    these,     which     are    mine      all, 

fate          jami?2)         32.    De      ctndn     wei    wA     bedb 
not     your  goods?  But      now     let     us       be 

ki      dkyel,    wa       n&to;*)  ma  omydu, 

with     one,     we     laugh;       because     your  brother, 

d      bidd      men         to,          de        a  cJiyer, 

he      was      one      dead,      but      he      became  alive, 

a     Heda     men  wanb,  de       e          dukb. 

he     was     one     who  was  lost,     but     he     returned. 


Genesis  III. 

1.      Twol    fan    en     a     rack     ki  brok*) 

Snake  was    it,  was   bad   with   wickedness 


J)  "there  is  not  a  ram  which  you  thought  of  being 
given  to  me,  that  I  might  eat  it  with  our  friends" :  you  have 
never  given  me  a  ram  .... 

2)  "we  have  lived  (together)  a  time  of  the  earth  which 
is  not  near,  and  all   these   goods,    which    are    mine,    are   they 
not  yours  ?"  we  have  lived  together  a  long  time  .... 

3)  now  let  us  live  in  unity,  and  be  glad. 

4)  "was  bad  with   wickedness,    astuteness":    was  extre- 
mely astute. 


55 

kele  lai         bene         a              chwdche          yi 

amidst  animals      all      which      were  created     by 

jwok.  Fan      en         a          fyechi        dacho         kine: 

God.  Was      it     which      asked      woman      thus  : 

Fane  jwok      d  kyetl   ivun,     kine:      wu       ku    cham 

is  it  God     refused    you     thus:     you     not     eat 

ki  rei         yen          eni?        2.    A  kobi     dacho 

from  body      trees       these?               Said     woman 

kine:  wd            kofe     kine:      cham    won1)       ki 

thus  :  we  were      said     thus  :       eat       we       from 

rei  yen       ben.    3.  De        wu        ku    chain    wun 

body  trees      all.         But      you      not      eat      you 

k1^  rei  yen         dk,         ka      u      nwali      wun       ki 

from  these     trees,     and     if      touch     you     with 

chen  wun,       wu        tb.      4.     A        kofe       dacho 

hands  your,      you      die.         Was      said      woman 

ki  yi  twol      kine:      e!        wu      fd       tqu!    5.  De 

by  snake     thus:     ah!     you     not     die!         But 

naje  jwok     kine:     chan      wu     cham    wun      nin 

knows  God     thus  :     day     you      eat      you     eyes 


wun          re             ge          u                yvpv  gn 

your      selves      they      will       be     opened  !  thing 

ddch       ki        gin      rach           u                lete  ivun, 

good     and     thing     bad     will  be      seen  by  you, 

nami      ka             naje            gen       ki  yi   jwok;  wu 

as        and     are  known     they      to          God;  you 

bvt       wu       na      jwok.     6.  Ka               let  ydn 

be      you      as       God       *   And       was    seen  tree 

eni       yi        dacho,           e  chvgo;           a  loge  rS 

this      by      woman,      it  was  red;      became  itself 


!)  we  may  eat. 


56 

men          chdm          yi         dacho,        ka        jal         ge 
one     was  eaten     by      woman,      and      man      their 

tote.         7.          A  yep  nih         ge  rei 

gave    she.         Was   opened      eyes      their      selves 

gdn,          a         Ute          rei         gen,          ge  chdta 

them,      was      seen      body     their,      they      walked 

nan  ').          A  fune  gen  ki  yite 

thus.       Was  plucked       by    them       with       leaves 

yen,  a          ruke  gin.2)       8.    Ka        fen 

of  trees,      was     put  on     by  them.         And     earth 

yik       mdlip,   a  bm    jwok,       a         Rh  ge 

became     cool,     came     God,    was    heard    by  them 

tyele      gony    a  fane      gen,        Adam        ki  tyen 

foot      his,       hid       they,       Adam      and      people 

gen,*)     fa        kine        rei          ge  u  let, 

their.      not      thus      body      their      may      be  seen 

ki  yi     jwok.      9.  A  chwoti    jivok       kine:       Adam, 
by  God.  Called      God      thus :      Adam, 

yi       ya         ken?     10.^4  kobi    Adam      kine:      yd 
you     are     where?  Said      Adam      thus:       I 

Una  chwakiy        a  fdnd,   ya     bwok,  yika 

heard     your  voice,     hid  I,     I   feared,     because  I 

chatd     ndu. 
walk     thus. 

11.  A  kobi  jwok  kine:  '  amen  a  k6fi 
yin  kine:  yi  chata  nau?  De  yi  chdm  ki 
rei  yan  a  kyere  yin  kine:  yi  ku  chdm 

J)  chata  nau  "walked  thus"  that  is,  walked  without 
anything:  they  were  naked. 

2j  gin  is  sometimes  used  for  gen. 

3)  "Adam  with  their  people"  that  is  with  his  wife; 
more  frequently:  na  gol  gen,  child  of  their  enclosure;  "people" 
and  "wife"  are  always  used  with  the  plural  of  the  person 
possessing. 


—     57     — 

ki  re!  12.  A  kobi  Adam  kine:  dacho  a 
wike  ydn  yl  yin,  fan  en  a  muji  ydn  ki 
nwole  yat,  kd  yd  chdm.  13.  A  fyech  dacho 
yi  jwok  kine:  yi  re  cham  ki  nwole  yen*? 
A  kobi  dacho  kine:  twol  fan  en  a  wdni 
ydn,  a  ban  mo  (ma?)  chdmd.])  14.  A  kobi 
jwok  kine:  yi  u  chen  ki  yi  ka  gwok  mok 
eni,  yi  u  chok  yi  mnla  fen,  labo  fan  en 
u  chdme  yin  ki  yete  chan  b~e_n.  15.  Mano 
u  chiba  kel  wun  ki  dacho,  ki  kel  negi  ki 
nege.  Fan  en  u  chak  wiji  ki  togo,  yi  u 
Ion  ta  tyele  dan  ki  togo.2)  16.  A  kobi 
jwok  ki  dacho  kine:  fal  u  ram  ki  rei  u 
nEnd  gen  chano  fate  fen;  ni  fa  nwole  yin 
e  bu  keti  mdr&mo  rei,  yeji  u  konq  tyeh 
wun,  fan  en  u  chak  yin  ki  jago.  17.  A 
kobi  jwok  ki  Adam  kine:  yi  ka  lini  kwop 
na  got  un  (wun),  ka  yi  chamo  ki  re  yan 
a  kyete  yin  kine:  yi  kil  chdm  kere  (ki  re), 
fen  u  chend  cheno;  yi  ni  chdm  ki  dwen 
ki  yete  chan  Venl  18.  Kivodo  ki  tim  bene 
u  toye  yin  yl  fen,  ni  chain  ki  nwole  yene 
fal.  19.  Yi  u  ton  yi  fur,  fan  en  ka  yi 
11  cham  ki  gin  cham;  men  u  ddk  fen,  a 
re  u  chwajd  yin;  ama  yi  fa  labo,  yi 
u  dogi  yi  labo.*)  20.  A  chwol  nin  na  gol 
gen  Eba,  ama  en  ml  te_ri  bene.  21.  A  gok 
jwok  ki  lau  a  Ian  dyel,  a  ruki  gin. 
22.  A  kobi  jivok  kine:  e,  dan  e_  logo  nami 


*)  after  that  I  ate. 

2)  "Enmity  shall  I  put  between  you  and  the  woman  .  .  . 
it  is  he  who  will  begin    to  wound    your    head,    and  you    will 
come  after  him  the  heel  of  the  foot  of  man  with  wounding" : 
and  after  that  you  will  wound  the  heel  of  man. 

3)  "you    will  die  with  hoeing,    and    thus    you    will    eat 
food;  this  (way)  you  will   return  to    the  earth,    out    of  which 
I  have  made  you;  for  you  are  mud,    and  you   will  return    to 
mud". 


—     58     — 

yey     icon,     gin      rack     ki      gin      docli      naje      en. 

De     dndn      fa      ket     ka      e      kdpo     ki  rei      yat 

nEniy  kd     e     cliarno     ki     rei     gon,      men  u     nini 

en  u  wite  (icote)  atir.1)  23.  A  kale  wok  ki 
yi  jivok  ki  Eden,  kd  klti  fal  be  fur  ki 
feri,  a  rei  gon  a  kwdni. 


J)  "But  now  lest  he  go  and  take  by  force  from  the 
tree  of  life,  and  eat  of  its  (fruit),  that  one  (fruit)  which  will 
(make  him  to)  live  (so  long  that  he)  will  reach  eternity". 


IV.  Words. 

Only  the  words  occurring  in  the  preceding 
pages  are  given  here.  The  verbs  are  given  in  the 
present  tense.  The  singular  and  plural  of  nouns 
are  separated  by  — .  For  example:  bat-bat  means: 
bat  is  singular,  bat  'is  plural. 


Shilluk— English. 


a  my 

a  sign  of  the  imperfect 

a  it  is 

a  which? 

dbwli  five 

dbidek  eight 

dbikyel  six 

dbinwen  nine 

dbiryau  seven 

dchd  that  there,  those  there 

ddek  three 

dder  o  donkey 

ddl,   edi  how.    how  much 

a/a  in  order  that 

dfoajo-dfodchi  hare,  rabbit 

agak  these 

ngon  where 


djwogo-djwok  doctor,  me- 

decine-man 
dk  these 
dkyel  one 
ama  because 
dmdlo  the  uppermost,  the 

first 

dmdn-dmok  who  ? 
an  this 

dndn  here,  now,  presently 
dno  pi.  ono  what,  wich? 
anwak-anwdki  water-buck 
dnwen  four 
dryau  two 

attgo-atEk  finger-ring 
dtep-dtep  bag,  sack 
atir  forever 


—     60     — 


duwa  yesterday 
aivo  yes 


Bdchodb, 

bago    to    make    a    fence, 

to  fence  in 
balb  to  throw 
banb  to  refuse 
ban   back,    behind  ;    slave 
b&r  to  be  long 
bat-bat  arm 
bfalo   to   remain,    to    stay. 

to  be 

bel  mosquito 
beii,  bene  all 
benen  that  is,  therefore 
btno  to   come 
bet  fish-  spear 
In  to   come;  see  beno 
bbdb  to  escape,  to  recover 
boi  expressing   surprise 
bbko  to  fear 
bbfo-bbl  in  front  of,  face, 

front 
bu9  bun   to   have    not,    to 

be  not 
biido  to  lie  down,    to  lie, 

to  be   sick 

budo  to  be  tired,  troubled 
bull  expressing  surprise 
bun  part 
bute  side,   beside 
byfrlo-byel  dura;  the  sing. 

means  :  a  single  dura- 

grain 

ch&bb  to  knead,  to  mix1) 


chagb  to  begin;  generally 
used  in  past:  chaka 

chaki  (to  be)   near 

chaino  to  be  going  to,  to 
want 

chamo  to   eat,  to  cheat 

clidn  behind 

clian  sun,  day;  de  clian 
tin  to-day 

chanduk  (ar.)   box 

chare  very 

cliatq  to   walk 

chayo  to  abuse 

che  short  for  chamo 

chego  to  be  red,  ripe ;  to 
be  short 

chego  to  catch  fish  with 
a  hook 

chem  to  be  straight;  a- 
chem  straight 

cJteno  to  curse 

diet  verily,  very,  thorough- 
ly, certainly 

chibo  to  put,  to  place 

chigo  to  repeat,  to  continue 

chin  bowels 

chbgb  to  remain,  continue 

c/iqn  formerly,  sometimes 

chbnb  to  gather,  heap  up 

chbnb  to  dance 

cMtl   to  Nbe  finished 

chun-chon  knee 

chuno  to   stop 

chwak  voice 

chwajb  to  form,  create 

chwak,  chivek  ambassador 
of  the  f  king 


see  also  under  sh. 


—     61     — 


chive  fat 

chivbbb    to    spear,    to    kill 

with  a  spear 
cliwolb  to  call 
chwbnb  to  be  behind,    be 

late 

chwbtb  to  call 
chwou  man 
chyeno,    cheno-chyen    hand 

da  to  have 

dak-dak  small  pot,  tobacco- 
pipe 
di  but 
del-del  skin 
d6ch  good 

Jojio  to  be  well,  good 
dbno  to  become  big 
dbnb  to  remain,  to  be  left 
ddro-dor  wall 
ddro-dori  adze 
duogo  to  return 

duon-dbnb  big,  great 

rfwai'  to  bring 

dwar  hunting 

dwdtd  to  want,  to  wish 

dwenb  to  dry,  to  be  shallow ; 

to  sink,  to  fall  (water) 
dyel-dyek   goat 
d^/*  middle,  amidst,  truth 
dacha-man  woman 
dakaii  woman 
ddlo  to  be    in  difficulties, 

not  to  know  how  to  do 
dan  man 
dean  pi.  dbk  cow 


deno  to  press,  to  vex 

dodb  to  suck 

dok-dok  mouth,   talk,  Ian- 

r\—          r\  — 

guage,    commandment 
dukl  to-morrow 
dubdo  to  rise,  arise 
duro  fen  to   destroy 
dwen  sorrow 

e  he 

en  he,  him 

eni  this,  that,  these,  those 

ere  why 

/a,   ba   1.  to  be;  2.  not1) 

^o  to  fall 
fal-fet  spoon 
fal  bush 
falb-fal  knife 
/Aw^  (he,    it)  is,    it  is  he, 

that  is  it 
fanb  to  hide 
fanb  to  be  full 
fanb  to  divide 
faro  to  remember 
fate  not 

ic?o  to  tell  lies 
jvmb  to  denie 
fen  ground,  earth 
fmb-fim  cheek 
fbdb  to  beat 
Jodo  to  surpass,  be  more 

than 
fbte  country 
fuk-fuki  pot 
funo  to  pluck 


see  also  under  p. 


—     62     — 


futo  to  pull  out 

fwodo  farm,  cultivated  land 

fwbno  to  teach 

fyemo  to  refuse 

fyet  to  be  torn 

ga  piece,  copy 

gan  never   (from  gano) 

gano  to  think,  to  consider, 
honour 

gat-gat  river-bank 

ge  they,  them 

gMo,  gvro  to  build,  to 
live,  reside 

gen  they,  them 

yeto  to  sacrifice  (a  cow), 
to  treat  a  guest 

gin-glk  thing 

gm-chdm  food 

yir,  gir  much,  many 

go  he,  him 

go_go  to  do,  to  work 

gbjb  to  beat 

gol  fence,  enclosure,  home- 
stead 

gon  he,  him 

gwalo  to  be  thin 

givMo   to  write,    to   carve 

give  jo  to  kick 

gwvlo-gwel  ring 

gwbk-gubk  dog 

gyeno-gyfrh  hen,  fowl 

y&n  he,  him 

jagb  to  rule 

jac/o-jak,  jaki  chief 

jdlo  (jal),  jok,  chwou  man 

jam  goods,  property 


jbgb  to  drive  away 

jor- JOT  bug 

jwano  to  hasten,  to  make 

quickly 
jwok  God,  sickness 

ka  place,  there 

kd  and,  connecting  sen- 
tences; then 

kabo  to  take  by  force 

kago  to  split,  to  pain  (head) 

kajo  to  bite,  to  pain 

kajo  by  el  to  strip  off,  to 
harvest  the  dura 

kake  time  •  k.  duon  old 
time,  from  old  times, 
ancient 

kal-kali  fence,   yard 

kalo  to  come  from,  to 
bring;  commonly  used 
in  the  imperfect 

kan  while 

kfrno  to  bring 

kech-kam    hunger,    dearth 

kedo  to  go 

kel,  kele  middle,  amidst 

ken  place,  time ;  when 

ken-let  "hot  place",  sore 
place,  wound 

ker  rich 

kete  alone,  self,  only 

ki  and,  connecting  words; 
with 

kidi  how 

kifa  that,  in  order  that, 
because  of 

kifano  why 

kindu,  kine  thus 


—     63     — 


kit-kiti  stone,  rock,  hill, 
mountain 

klto  to  put 

Jcobo  to  speak,  to  talk,  to 
say 

kodo  macli  to  make,  to 
light  a  fire 

kbab  to  blossom 

kono  to  be  excited 

kono  bur  to  dig  a  hole 

kf>?w9  kivono  to  help 

kono  to  pour 

kor  breast 

koro  to  care  for 

kot  rain 

ku  not,  expressing  pro- 
hibition 

kucho  not  to  know 5  almost 
exclusively  used  in  the 
passive:  kuclie  ydn  I 
do  not  know 

kun  place 

kune  don  pigs 

kwaclw  to  beg,  pray 

kwako  to   embrace 

kwalo  to  steal 

kwario  to  take 

kwaro  red 

kivayb  to  herd 

&W?i  bread 

kwero-kwerl  hoe 

kweyo  wound 

fewrc  some 

kwodo  thorn 

kwbm-kom  back,  on,  upon 

kwom-kiloml  chair 

kwarno  to  halt,  to  lame 

kwdrio  to  help 


talk,  matter 
kworo  torch 
%6?c?<2  to  refuse 
kyen-kyen  horse 

labo  mud,  clay 

M^  animal,  game 

lau-lam  skin,  cloth 

lau  far 

/a i^o  to  be  far 

lai/b:     wije     layo     he     is 
ashamed 

lljo-lek  tooth 

/^  war 

Ivno  to  become,  or  to  feel 
^  hot 

let  (to  be)  hot,  sore,  lazy 

lido,  1Mb  to  see 

lino  to  hear 

libo  to  become  cool 

logo  to  become 

&«  /o^ro  \  if  it  becomes, 
&#  Ibgi  I  if 

/o/o  (to  be)  black 

Ion  sticks 

Ibnb  theAside,  region,  part 

lumo  -  lum    grass 

IwMb-lwet  finger 

Iwogo  to  wash 

lyech-liech  elephant 

lyelb  to  shave 

lyvlb  to  burn 

ma,  mar  because 

md  which  rel. 

maclt  fire 

m&db  to  drink 

mago  to  catch,  to  seize 


mdl  heaven,  top;  on, 
above;  forward,  on- 
ward 

md.no  to  forbid,  to  hate, 
to  despise 

mano  enmity,  hate 

mat  slow,   slowly 

mat-matt  female 

mayo  to  fish 

mMo  (to  be)  sweet 

meko-moko  some,  someone, 
another 

men  whose;  the  one  who 

merb  to  be  reconciled 

mi  mother 

mino  to  become  dark 

mtb  mother 

mito  to  hold  fast 

mbdo  dark 

mok  thing,  things,  property 

moko  (mako)  to  drop,  drip, 
to  rain 

mol  morning,  in  the  mor- 
ning 

molo  to  come  early 

moto  (to  do  something) 
perhaps 

mujo  to  give 

mulo  to  crawl 

mumo  to  be  perplexed, 
confused 

myerb  to  be  worth,  to  be 
becoming 

na  like,  as 

n&gb  to  kill 

nam  river 

nami  like,  as 

nau  thus 


ne  like,  as 

nebb  to  be  wet 

nVno  to  see,  to  look 

nenb  to   sleep 

n%no  to  live 

nok  (to  be  )  little 

nbkb  to  heal  intr. 

numb  to  lick,  kiss 

nut  to  be  present,  to  exist 

nuti  not  yet,  not 

na-nwott   child 

riako   to    fight,    to  wrestle 

nale-nati  python 

nal-nan   boy 

han-hah,  nwoli  girl 

ndn-ndm  crocodile 

nek  posterity 

ni  particle  for  the  habitual 

form  of  the  verb 
riim  face,    in  the   face  of 
nin  name 
niltb  to  show 
nwagb    to    partake    of    a 

meal 

nwalb  to  touch 
riwogo  louse,  lice 
nwoli   children 
nwblo  to  bear,  to  calve  etc. 
mvolo-nwollseed,  offspring, 

child,     posterity.       n. 

gylno  hen-egg,  chicken 
iiachb  to  take  leave 
nach  behind 
najb     to     know;     almost 

exclusively  used  in  the 

passive,     naje  ydn  (it) 

is    known    to    me:    I 

know  (it) 


—     65     — 


nalb  to  butcher 
nate-ty&n  man,  person 
neawq  to  buy 
nEno  much 

neto  to  laugh,  to  be  merry 
noto  to  cut  off,   hew,   fell 
nu-nuwi  lion 
nudo  to   cut 

nwech-nwech  a  large  lizard 
mnyen  metal,  money 
nyeto  to  milk 

ohfrr  feather 

oboi  foam 

obivbno-bivono  white  man, 

European,  Arab 
bdek-udikl  a  mat 
of&db  a  tree ;    its  fruit   is 

eaten  by  goats 
oglk-oglk  buffalo 
ogwal-ogwell  frog 
ogwok-ogbkl  fox,  jackal 
bgwol-bgwol   a  black  bird 
bgwqro-ogwerl      the     blue 

heron 

bkbk-bkbk  flower,  blossom 
okot-bkqt  bell 
okwek    (bkwbk)  -  bkwak     a 

small  goose 

omorb-omor  roan  antelope 
omyau  brother 
omvok-oriwok    male    sheep 

or  goat 
opun  loaf 

brbk-brok  wickedness,   sin 
otwon-otibn    male    animal ; 

cock 
otwon-otwbm  hyena 

Westermann,  Shilluk-English. 


otyeno  some  time  ago 
owet-owet  a  mat 

pacli-myer    village,    home 

pam  table 

parb  to  flie,   to  flee 

pek  to  be  heavy 

pi  water 

ponb  lum   to    weed    grass 

purb  to  hoe,  cultivate  the 

ground 
pwbchb    chak  to  churn,  to 

make  butter 
pwojo  to  praise 
pyarb  ten 
pyejb  to  ask 
pyeno-pyen  skin 

rack  bad 

ram-ram  thigh 

ramo  to  pain,  ache 

re  forming  reflexive  pro- 

re  why  [nouns 

rdchb-rechi  fish 

rvnb  to  become  or  to  be 

bad,  to  spoil 
repb     yi    mach    to     catch 

fire,  to  burn 
repb  to  be  reconciled 
rlnb  meat 
rmb  to  run 
rit-ror  king 
romo  (pi)  to  fetch,  to  dip 

water 
ro no  to  be  wrong,  wicked^ 

to  do  wrong 
rugb    to    put    on    clothesr 

to  dress 

5 


66     — 


rumo  to  think 
rumo  to  be  finished 
run  year 

tabo  pot 

tar,  tar  (to  be)  white 

techo  to  be  wet 

tedo  to  carry 

tek  (to  be)  hard,  strong, 
brave 

tEro,  tMo  people 

tewo  to  wag 

tin  just  now,  to  -  day, 
presently,  soon 

tino  to  lift  up 

tMq  lie 

logo  to  wound 

tok  (to  be)  absent 

ton-ton  spear 

tono,  tono-ton  egg 

toyo  to  pierce,    to  sprout 

tugb  to  play 

tulo  to  rise  (sun) 

twbjo  to  bind 

ty^lb-tyel  foot;  time,  mea- 
ning 

ft/tffto  ya  to  carve  a  boat 

tyeto  to   carry 

tdk-taki  hat 

£ano-Zam  temples 

&'m  forest 

to,  ton  (to wo)  to  die 

tibtb  to  give 

£wmo  to  be  finished 

twol-toli  snake 

tyau  also 

u  particle  of  the  future 


wa  my  father 

wdy  wo  we,  us 

wala  or 

wano  to  approach 

i^a^o  to  disappear,  to  be 

lost 
wano  book,  paper 

wan-nin  eye 

i  i        •  i 

war,  uwar  night 

wdro-w&r  shoe 

ivat,  ivat-wati  son 

wat  ban  slave,    people  of 

the  house,   wife 
wlito  to  leave,  to  start 
wdt-wat  ox 
wei  (wEyo)  to  let 
weko  to  give 
welo  to  travel 
wen,  dwen  when? 
wen  his  father 
wero,  wero  to  be  angry 
weto  to  squander 
m  father 
wich-wat,    wit   head^    top, 

on 

iv  mo -win  bird 
wito  to  arrive 
ivok  outside,  bush 
woman  women 
won  we.  us 
ivono  to  cheat 
worb  to  send 
wot-wodi  house,  hut 
ivo-ten    pi.  wo-tdno,    wo- 

tono  small  boy 
wou  (wowo)       to  make    a 

noise 
ivu  you  pi. 


—     67 


wumo  =  rurtio  to  finish 
wun  you  pi. 

y*  I 

ya  to  be 

yabo  to  search 

yachi  friends 

yano  to  insult 

ydn  I,  me 

yat-yen  tree,  medecine 

yaw  well,   quietly,  just 

yech-yet     belly,      middle, 

yejo  to  sweep      [amidst,  in 

yena  to  be 

yet-yiet  neck 

yeto  yat   to    climb    a  tree 

?y^o  to  reach 


yeyo   to  believe,    to    trust 

yfryo  to  be  able ;  can ; 
generally  used  in  im- 
perfect 

yl  by,  to,  towards 

yi  you  sing.  nom. 

yiebo  to  open 

yiego  to  carry,  to  bring 

yiep  tail 

yigo  to  become 

y/n  you  sing. 

yit-yit  ear 

3/1^0  to  receive 

yo-ytt  way 

yoc?o  to  find,  imp.  yiti 

yortio  wind 

ywbno  to  cry,  to  weep 


English— Shilluk. 


able,  to  be-  i/eyo 

above  mdl 

absent  tok 

abuse  v.  chayo 

ache  v.  ramo 

adze  n.  doro-dori 

all  beii,  bvne 

alone  kete 

also  tyau 

ambassador  n.  cJn&ak 

amidst^/,  kele;  dyer;yech 

and  ka,  ki 

angry,  to  be  wero 

animal  n.  lai 

another  meko-mdko 

approach  v.  wano 

arise  v.  diibdo 

arm  n.  bat-bat 

arrive  v.  wito 

as  nami 

ashamed,  he  is-  wije  layd 

ask  v.  py&jb 

back  n.  kivom-kdm;  a.  ban 
bad  rach:  to  be-  rbnb 
bag  a$p-a$p 


be  v.  fa,  ba,  bMo,  i/ena,  ya 
bear  a  child  nwblo 
beat  v.  gvjo,  fbdo 
because    ama,    ma,    mar; 

kifa 

become  v.  logo,  yigo 
beg  v.  kwacJw 
begin  v.  drag q 
behind    chdn,    nach,    ban; 

to  be-  chwono 
believe  v.  yeyo 
bell  n.  okot-bkot 
belly  n.  yecli-yet 
beside  bute 

big  duon;  to  become-  dono 
bind  v.  twbjo 
bird  n.  wino-wm 
bite  v.  Jcdjb 
black,  to  be-  lojq 
blossom  v.  kogo 
blossom  n.  see  flower 
board  n.  pam 
book  n.  ivarib 
bowels  chin 
boy  n.  nal 
brave  tek 


bread  n.  kwen 

breast  n.  kor 

bring  v.  M/o/  kanb,    dwai 

brother  n.  omyau 

buffalo  n.  ogik-ogik 

bug  n.  jor-jor 

build  v.  gMb,  gvrb 

burn  v.  ly%lb 

bush  n.  ivbk,  fal 

but  dt 

butcher  v.  nalo 

buy  v.  neawq 

by  yl 

call  v.  chwolby  chivoto 

can  v.  yeyo 

care  for  v.  kdro 

carry  v.  tyetb ;  fedo,  yiego 

carve  v.  gwedb ;  to  —  a  boat 

tyeno  yei 
catch  v.  mago 
chair  n.  kwom-kiibmi 
cheat  v.  chamb,   ivono 
cheek  n.  fino-finl 
chief  n.  jagb,  jak 
child  n.  na-mvoli 
churn  v.  pwbcho 
clay  n.  labo 
climb  v.  yeto 
cock  n.  otwon-otbn 
come  v.  W,  6m,  6|no 
come  from  kalb 
confused,  to  be  —  mumb 
consider  v.  gano 
continue  v.  chiffo,  chogb 
cool,  to  become-  libo 
copy  n.  ga 
country  n.  fbte 


cow  n.  dean-dbk 
crawl  v.  mulb 
create  v.  chwajb 
crocodile  n.  ndn-ridm 
cry  v.  ywbnb 
cultivate  v.  purb 
cut  v.  TIO^O,  nudb 

dance  v.  chonb 

dark  rnbdb 

day  ckan 

deceive  v.  wono 

denie  v.  femb 

despise  v.  rnanb 

destroy  v.  duro  feti 

die  v.  tb,  tbu 

difficulty;    to  be   in-  ddlb 

dig  v.  kono 

disappear  v.  ivdiib 

divide  v.  fanb 

do  v.  gogb 

doctor  ajtvogo-djwbk 

dog  n.  gwbk-gubk 

donkey  adirb 

dress  v.  riigb 

drink  v.  madb 

drive  away  v.  jbgb 

dry  v.  dweno 

dura   by  el 

ear  n.  yit-ylt 
early,  to  come-  molo 
earth  n.fen 
eat  v.  ch&mb 
egg  n.  tono-ton 
eight  dbidek 
elephant  n.  lyecli-liecli 
embrace  v.  kwakb 


—     70     — 


enclosure  n.  gbl 
escape  v.  b&db 
excited,  to  be-  kono   • 
exist  v.  nut 
eye  n.  ivan-nin 

face  h.  nim,  bblb-bbl 

fall  y.fddo 

far  lau,  to  be-  lawo 

farm  n.  fwodo 

Fashoda  BdckMo 

fat  chwe 

father  wi;  his-  wen 

fear  v.  bbkb 

feather  n.  bb&r 

female  n.  mat-mail 

fence  n.  kal,  gbl 

fence  in  v.  bagb 

fetch  water  romb  pi 

field  n.  fwodo 

fight  v.  ?mkb;  n.  Un 

find  v.  yodo 

finger  n.  IwMo-lwtt 

finger-ring  attgb-atvk 

finished,  be-  rttmb,   tamo; 

chdti 

fire  n.  mach 
first  amdlb 
fish    n.  recho    (rejb)-reclil, 

recli 

fish  v.  mayo 
fish- spear  bet 
five  dbicli 
flee  v.  pfrrb 
fly  v.  p&rb 
flower  n.  bkok-bkbk 
foam  n.  060^ 
food  n.  gin-chdin 


foot  n.  tyvlb-tyel 

forbid  v.  mtino 

forever  atir 

form  v.  chwajb 

formerly  chdn,  otyenb 

forward  m dl 

four  dnwen 

fowl  n.  gyvnb,  gyeh 

fox  n.  ogwok-ogokl 

frog  n.  ogwal-ogwell 

front  bf>lo 

full,  to  be-  fanb 

game  n.  Mi 

gather  v.  clwnb 

give  v.  mujo,  w~eko,  tpto 

go  v.  A-^Wo 

goat  n.  dyel-dyek 

God  ^'itfo/: 

good  ddch'  to  be- 

goods  n.  jam 

goose  n.  okwek-bkwak 

grass  n.  lumb 

ground  n.  fen 

halt  v.  kwomb 

hand  n.  chyenb-chyen 

hard  te_k 

hare  dfbajo-dfoaclil 

hasten  v.  jwano 

hat  n.  tdk-taki 

hate  v.  manb 

have  v.  da 

he  e,  yes  en 

head  n.  wich-wat 

heal  v.  intr.  noA;o 

hear  v.  lino 

heap  up  v.  clibnb 


—     71 


heaven  n.  mdl 

heavy  pek 

help  v.  kwbnb,-  kbrio 

hen  n.  gyenb,  gyeh 

herd  v.  kivfryb 

here  anan 

heron,    the   blue-  bgwbrb- 

ogwerl 
hew  v.  nbtb 
hide  v.  fdnb 

hoe  n.  kw^ro-kwtrl;  v. puro 
hold  fast  v.  mitb 
home  n.  pach-myef 
honour  v.  gano 
horse  n.  kywi-kyen 
hot  let;  to  be-  Iznb 
house  n.  icot-wodi 
how,    how  much  ddiy    edi 
hunger  n.  kecli 
hunting  dwar 
hut  n.  wot 
hyena  n.  otiuon-otwom 

I  yfiy  ydn 
if  kd  logo 
in  yech 
insult  v.  yaiio 

jackal  n .  ogwok-ogbkl 
just  now  tin 

kick  v.  gw%jb  give  jo 
kill  v.  nago 
king  n.  rit-ror 
kiss  v.  numb 
knead  v.  chagb 
knee  n.  chun-clion 
knife  falb-fal 


know    v.   najo ;     not    to- 
kuchb 

lame  v.  kwbmb 

language  n.  dok-dok 

late,  to  be-  chwono 

laugh  v.  n&tb 

lazy  let 

leave  v.  watb 

leave,  to  take-  naclib 

left,  to  be-  dbno 

let  v.  ivei,  weyb 

lick  v.  numb 

lie  n.  todb 

lie  v.  budo 

lies,  to   tell-  fido 

lift  up  v.  tmo 

light  a  fire  kodb 

lion  n.  nu-nuwi 

little,  a-  ?iofc 

live  v.  nEnb 

lizard,  &\&Tge-nwdch-nw&ch 

long,  to  be-  bar 

look  v.  nVno 

lost,  to  be-  wdnb 

louse  n.  nwdgo 

male  n.  chwou,  jal 

male  animal  n.  6tw6n-6tbn 

mann.  nate-tyen;  dan-tyen; 

=  male:  jal-jok 
mat  n.  odek-udikl 
matter  n.  kwop 
meaning  n.  ty%lb 
meat  n.  rino 
medecine  n.  ydt-yen 
merry,  to  be-  nsto 
metal  n.  nyen 


—     72     — 


middle     n.    yech-yet,     kel, 

kele,  dyer 
milk  v.  nyeto 
mix  v.  cliabo 
money  n.  nyen 
morning  n.  mol 
mosquito   bei 
mother  n.  mio 
mountain  n.  kit-kiti 
mouth  n.  dok-dok 
much   nMo,  gir 
mud  n.  labo 
my  a 

name  n.  nin 

near  chaki 

neck  n.  yet-yiet 

never  gan 

night  n.  uwar 

nine  dbimuen 

noise,  to  make  a-  won 

not  fa,  fate 

not  yet  nuti 

now  anan 

offspring  n.  nwolo-nwoli 

one  dkyel 

only  kete 

onward  mdl 

open  v.  yiebo 

or  ivala 

outside  wok 

ox  n.  wdt-wat 

pain   v.  k&gb,    kajo,    ramo 
paper  n.  wano 
part  n.  Ibno 
people  fero 


perplexed,    to    be-    rnumo 
person  n.  nate-tyen 
pierce  v.  toyo 
pig  kune  don 
place  n.  ken,    ka,  kun;   v. 
play  v.  tugo  [chibo 

pluck  v.  funo 
posterity  n.  nwolo-nwoli 
pot  n.  fuk-fuki;  tabo 
pour  v.  kbno 
praise  v.  pwojo 
pray  v.  kwachb,  lamo 
present,  to  be-  nut 
presently  dndn,  tin 
property  n.  jam 
pull  out  v.  futa 
put  v.  chibo,  klto 
python  n.  n  ale-nail 

rabbit  see  hare 

rain   n.  kot;   rain   v.  kot  e 

moko 

ram  n.  omvok-oriwdk 
receive  v.  yito 
reconcile  v.  mero,  repo 
recover  v.  bbdo 
red    kwaro ;    to  be-    chego 
refuse     v.    kyedo,    fyemo, 

bdno 

region  n.  Ibno 
remain     v.    chogb,      ddno, 
remember  faro 
repeat  v.  cliigo 
reside  v.  gedb,  gvro 
return  v.  duogo 
rich  ker 

ring  n.  giv&lo-gwvl 
ripe,  to  be-  chego 


—     73     — 


rise  v.  dii&do;  of  the  sun: 
river  n.  nam  [tulo 

river- bank  gat-gat 
road  n.  yo-y^t 
roan  -  antelope    n.    omoro- 

ombr 

rock  n.  kit-kiti 
run  v.  rmb 

sack  n.  see  bag 

say  v.  kobo_9  ko 

search  v.  yabb 

see  v.  lidby  1Mb 

seed  n.  nwolo-nwoli 

seize  v.  inago 

self  kete 

send  v.  wdrb 

seven  dbiryau 

shallow  to  be-  dwenb 

shave  v.  lyelo 

shoe  n.  ivdro-ivar 

short  chek 

show  v.  nuto 

sick  a.  da  jwok 

sickness  n.  jwok 

side  n.  Ionb9  bute 

sin  n.  brok-brbk 

six  abikyel 

skin    11.   t&u-lani,    del-de_I9 

pyeno-pyen 
slave  wat  ban 
sleep  v.  ?^??o 
slow  mat 
snake  n.  twol-tpU 
some  kwi 

some,  someone  rnvko-mbko 
somebody  11.  nate-tyen 
son  wat)  wat-wati 


soon  tin 

sore  let 

speak  v.  kobo 

spear  n.  ton-tbn9  v.  chwbbb 

split  v.  kago 

spoil  v.  rfyfio 

spoon  n.  fal-fet 

squander  v.  ivetb 

start  watb 

stay  v.  bMo 

steal  kwdtb 

sticks  n.  Ion 

stone  n.  kit,  ktti 

stop  v.  chunb 

straight  chem 

stranger    n.  obwbno-bivono 

strong  te_k 

suck  v.  dodo 

sun  chan 

surpass  v.  Jodo 

sweep  v.  ye  jo 

sweet  a.  medb 

table  n.  pam 

tail  n.  yiep 

take  by  force  kabb 

take  v.  kwaiio 

talk  n.  kwop;  v.  kobo 

teach  v.  fivdnb 

temples  n.  tnnb-tdm 

ten  pyarb 

that  eni9  acha 

that,  in  order-  kifa 

them  ge,  gen 

there  ka,  clime 

therefore  benSn 

these  ak9  agak 

they  ges  gen 


—     74     — 


thigh  n.  ram-ram 

thin,  to  be-  givalb 

thing  gm-gik 

think  v.  rumo,  ganb 

this  an,  eni 

thoroughly  chet 

three  ddek 

throw  v.  balb 

thus  kink,  kindh         [duon 

time    n.  k&kd;  old  —  kake 

tired,  to  be-  budo 

tobacco-pipe  dak-dak 

to-day  tin,  de  chan  tin 

to-morrow  duki 

tooth  lejo-lek 

top  n.  wich,  mdl 

torch  n.  kwbro 

torn,  to  be-  fyet 

touch  v.  nwalb 

travel  v.  ivelo 

treat  v.  g~eto 

tree  n.  ydt-yen 

troubled,  to  be-  budo 

trust  v.  yeyo 

truth  dyer 

two  dryau 

us  wd,  wo,  icon 

verily  chet 
very  chare,  chet 
vex  v.  d&nb 
village  n.  pach-myer 
voice  n.  chwak 
wag  v.  teivo 
walk  v.  chatb 
wall  n.  doro-dor 
want  dwdtd,  chamo 


war  n.  len 

wash  v.  Iwbgo 

water  n.  pi 

wat er-b  u  ck  anwd k-a  nwa  ki 

way  n.  yo-yH 

we  wd,  wo,  won 

weed  v.  pbnb 

weep  v.  ywbno 

well,  to  be-  dbjb 

wet,  to  be-  nebb,  tec  ho 

what  fmb 

when  wen,  dwen ;  con],  ken 

where  agon,  ken 

which    a,    amen    ano-orib; 

white  tar  [rel.  md 

white    man    obwbnb-bwono 

who   amen-dmok 

whose  men 

why  re,  ere,  kifano 

wicked  rack 

wickedness  n.  brbk-brok 

wind  n.  ybmb 

wish  v.  dwdtd 

with  ki 

wizard  see  doctor 

woman  dachb-man;  ddkdu 

work  v.  gdgb 

worth,  to  be-  myerb 

wound  n.  ken-let;  v.  kweyo 

write  v.  gwMb 

wrong,  to  be-  ronb 

yard  n.  kdl-kali,  gbl 
year  n.  run 
yes  awo 
yesterday  duwd 
you  sing,  yi,  yin 
you  pi.  wu,  wun. 


CONTENTS. 

I.  GRAMMAR. 

The  Sounds.  Pase 

1.  The  consonants 1 

2.  System  of  the  Consonants    ....  3 

3.  The  Vowels 3 

4.  System  of  the  Vowels 4 

5.  Long  Vowels 5 

6.  Diphthongs 5 

7.  Interchange  of  Sounds                           .  6 

8.  The  Intonation 6 

9.  Examples  for  Intonation       ....  7 

10.  Accentuation .  8 

The  Noun. 

11.  The  Plural  of  Nouns 9 

12.  Means  of  Forming  the  Plural   ...  9 

Case. 

13.  Genetive 11 

14.  Objective  Case .  12 

15.  Gender 12 

Pronouns. 
The  Personal  Pronoun. 

16.  Absolute  Form   .     . 13 

17.  Connected  Form 13 

18.  Objective  Form 14 

19.  Possessive  Form 14 


—     76     — 

Page. 

20.  Poss.  Pr.  as  a  Substantive     .     .     .     .15 

21.  Interrogative  Pronouns 15 

22.  Relative  Pronouns  . 16 

23.  Demonstrative  Pronouns 17 

24.  Reflexive  Pronoun 19 

25.  "Myself" 19 

26.  Adjective 20 

27.  Adjectives  used  as  verbs      .     .     .     .21 

28.  Comparison    . . 21 

29.  Numerals 22 

30.  Ordinal  Numbers 22 

31.  The  Verb 22—24 

32.  The  Verb  with  Object     .     .     .     25—26 

33.  The  Passive  Voice       26 

34.  Example  for  the  Passive      ....  28 

35.  Verbal  Noun 28 

36.  Noun  Agent 28 

37.  Negation ,     .  29 

38.  39.  Auxiliary  Verbs 29 

40  a.  List  of  Verbs 30—31 

41.  Adverbs 32 

42.  Conjunctions        32 

43.  Prepositions 32 

44.  Interjections 33 

II.  SHORT  SENTENCES 33—49 

III.  TWO  BIBLE-TEXTS 50—58 

IV.  WORDS. 

Shilluk-English 59—67 

English-Shilluk 68—74 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DEPT. 

RENEWALS  ONLY — TEL.  NO.  642-3405 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


iJlAY  2  7  1969  X  0 

BE'D  I  n    SE 

^15  '69  "8  AM 

iKBff 

JAN  fc-   S:.^ 

C?r"^-T'3^frr;i^ 

•  -••  .  ? 

OCT  2  8  1996 

CIRCULATION  DEPT 

LD  21A-40m-2,'69 
(J6057slO)476 — A-32 


General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 


^.3!<§!-EY  LIBRARIES 


0357=1507714 


